Marathon goals

As the days tick by and it's almost time for my first full marathon, I wanted to do a post about my goals for the race.

First goal: You don't talk about goals

I'm just joking mostly (and making a Fight Club reference), but I don't have a time goal for the marathon. I have no idea what those last few miles will be like and I want to put as little pressure on myself as possible.

In a perfect world, little or no pressure would be great. However in my reality, I have standards of acceptability for my running:

• Try to enjoy it. This is how I choose to spend my free time.
• I better not be running any miles times with a "10" in front of it unless I am bleeding or limping.
• Don't poop myself.
• Big girls don't cry.
• Don't get beat by an 80 year old guy.

I realize I may break one or more of these (hopefully not the third one), and I'll try to be ok with that. There are always more races and since I'm already signed up for another marathon in October (Marine Corps), I can try to beat my time from this marathon.

Personally, I think regardless of my finishing time, it's pretty awesome that I'm running a marathon with a 9 month old baby. I can't use that excuse much longer, so I plan on milking it as much as possible until then (at least until she's a year old).

I watched The Spirit of a Marathon on Hulu yesterday (it's free to watch) and it got me really pumped to run. I wish the race was tomorrow, but Sunday will come quickly enough. Let's all cross our fingers that Faith lets me sleep the night before, mmkay?

Originally my plan was to have my husband drive me to the race, but now I'm not sure about that. I have to leave pretty early (the race starts at 7:15) and with daylight savings that morning, Faith might not be up yet. I hate waking her up and my husband will have a rough morning with her if she's overtired. The start is only about 10 minutes from my house, I think I can manage that drive and he can always pick me up if I need it!

I was told this would be a flat marathon, but the elevation map says otherwise. Glad to know the big hills are at the end. FML.

Also, just because it struck me as hilarious, the following things are forbidden at my race: Please, no headsets/earbuds or other portable listening devices, pets, strollers, baby joggers, bicycles (other than official bicycle marshals), Sherpas, unregistered runners, or rollerblades/skates on the course. 

Well, I hadn't even considered doing a marathon in rollerblades (which would be EPIC), but now I really want a Sherpa.
 

What's the funniest thing you've ever seen at a race? I didn't see it personally, but when my husband was watching me run the VA Beach Rock and Roll Half Marathon, he saw a guy run by with blood streaks down his shirt from chafed nipples. It was only mile 7! Band aids, guys, don't forget your band aids!