LA Marathon PreGame Thoughts

I am super excited to be a part of the ASICS LA Marathon Blogger Challenge team.  ASICS has put together an amazing group of running bloggers and I am honored to be a part of this group.

I will be running my second full marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday, March 9th.  I am very excited to run this race.  I have been told that it is a very energetic race that showcases many of the sightseeing landmarks around LA.  This is amazing news to me because I have never been to LA (besides flying in to Hunting Beach last spring to run Ragnar So Cal).

Check out my race course and the amazing landmarks I will run through! (I am super excited).

My pregame thoughts are to enjoy the journey.  Running a marathon is not only physically taxing but mentally tough to.  For me, I will be out on the road… running… for over four hours.  I need to prepare my brain  for mental toughness.  Trevor from the podcast Marathon Training Academy shares the following about the power of the brain:

“Your body will not be prepared to go the distance unless it has the full support and encouragement of your mind and will. Before you can run 26.2 miles you have to believe that you can do it.  Our minds are very powerful and can even affect the way our body functions.  You need to develop a positive “I CAN DO IT” mentality when it comes to your marathon training.   You need to actually begin to visualize yourself as a marathoner. Marathons are at least 50% mental (if not more).  Having an arsenal of mental tools will get you through the tough latter miles in the marathon.”

I am trying to focus on positive and happy thoughts.  I keep reflecting back on how I felt when I ran CIM, my first full marathon.  I had my doubts going in to that race… but I overcame and ran a strong race.

Things that are different this training cycle

This training cycle has been different than when I trained for my first full.  It will be interesting to see how it all plays out come race day.

1. I am not running injured.  I have no sharp shooting pains in my feet or knees like I did before CIM.  My ankle is still tight, not sure what is going on with it… but there is no pain when walking or running.  Which is a huge praise!
2. I have NOT lost any toe nails this training cycle.  Miracles do exist!  Gross, but true.  I am giving the credit to the larger toe box in my ASICS and having them properly sized (running in a size 1/2 bigger than I was prior helped).
3. All my training runs have been solo.  This has been great for fitting in those long runs when I can, however it has also proven challenging on those hard days.  Mentally and physically having a friend running with me would have been great to push me when I struggled.
4. The last few weeks of my long runs have been physically and mentally challenging.  I think it was from me not properly hydrating and fueling before and during my run.  Call it a rookie mistake or someone who is now blinded by the number of miles.  Who knows… but I am praying that come race day that will not be a factor.
5. When I ran CIM the starting temperature was 19 and finishing was in the 30s.  This weekends race will be a low of 60 and a high in the 80s.  This is a completely different racing dynamic… but it should be a gorgeous race.

I am blessed and thankful that my body is able to run the distance of 26.2 miles.  I am blessed and thankful for a husband who will be staying home and caring for our three wild monkeys while I go play and run in LA.  I am blessed to be able to share my running journey and adventures with you.  No matter what happens on race day, I am blessed.

I am always timid to share my goals with others because I fear failure.  However, it is great to have accountability in sharing those scary goals with others.  Here are my goals for the ASICS LA Marathon this weekend:

Ultimate Goal

FINISH!  Sounds simple and a bit  broad, but you never know what can happen out there on race day.  My ultimate goal is to finish and cross the finish line of this 26.2 mile journey!  I want to run across the finish line happy, healthy, uninjured, and loving the run!

Awesome Goal

Have a finishing time under 4:37:42 (my first and only full marathon finishing time).  This shall be interesting to see what I can do solo (no friends running with me or to support me).

Amazingly Happy – Stars Align and Magic Happens – Goal

I run a strong race.  I run a negative split.  I run pain free.  I have a smile on my face.  I love running.  I finish around 4:30… dare I even type it a SUB-4:30?!

I am super excited to be running this race this weekend.  There are so many fun events leading up the race, that I honestly haven’t had much thought to running 26.2 miles yet.  I am too overwhelmed with making sure the boys are taken care of at home, I have the wardrobe for the ASICS event leading up the race, and getting all my ducks in a row before flying out.  You know, the never ending to-do list of a mom!

That being said, I am looking forward to spending a few days away.  Being Rachel.  Doing, sharing with others, and enjoying the thing I love… running!

You can follow my weekend adventure in LA on twitter or instagram by following the #ALAM or on facebook.

What race day mottos do you tell yourself to push you to do your best?
Do you have any bits of wisdom or tips on how to run this race?

*Have you entered to win one of two $150 giftcards to ASICS.com yet?  Why not.  Enter HERE.  Giveaway ends this Sunday!*