Two months ago, i found myself overwhelmed at the dining room table looking online at running shoes.  I was panicking about not having shoes I’m in love with, exhausted from battling physical and emotional fatigue and mental anguish over possible race strategies, chafing, life balance and found myself in tears in Stephen’s arms. (Yeah, he’s always there for me.)

Then I checked the calendar– halfway to race day. I forgot how incredibly hard marathon training is, specifically the last 6 weeks where the mileage piles up, the tempo runs get longer and the taper is still too far off for comfort.

I’m going to repeat this. Marathon training is hard. And I make it hard on myself because i want to beat my PR. I make training hard so that it will feel somewhat easier or sustainable on race day no matter the conditions. I do this to myself and I don’t make money for it. <–is this why people think runners are insane? Perhaps.

Fast Forward into the final days before Boston. I feel much better about my training, my shoe choice, general stress and anxiety. The work is done. The hay is in the barn, there’s nothing left to do but trust the training. So that’s where i’m at right now. I feel good, besides feeling like absolute taper garbage. (Where all your easy runs feel way too hard, you doubt every step and phantom pains appear.)

I have several goals for this race, regardless of weather conditions (wind/rain) and a hilly course. I’m ready for the challenge, I’m ready to put it all out there. But I was asked last week from a good friend how I was feeling. If i was nervous, excited, happy, scared… And i answered not really knowing I was figuring out feelings as the words fell from my mouth. I am happy and excited, but i don’t feel the desperate desire or need to prove myself anymore. I’m so happy in my home life that I don’t need anything else to make me feel good. I run now because I love to run, not because I need it for validation or to feel good about myself. The best part of this marathon training so far is Stephen telling me he’s already proud of me. I’m not even in Boston yet, and he’s proud of the hard work i’ve put in. That kind of support is all i need when I toe the line. It doesn’t matter if I PR or bomb the race.

That being said, i, of freaking course am going to run my best on the day given. And for those of you out there running Boston, I found a great article that breaks the course down and almost gives you a guide on how to pace and fun landmarks to look for. This gave me a great peace of mind when I found it, i hope it helps you too!

https://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/boston-marathon-course-tips-for-runners

Right as i was getting uber stressed over training a much needed vacation to New Orleans with my best, favorite people happened. Enjoy some fun pictures and Happy Saturday!

Jackson Square.

Not Jackson Square.

Banksy!

Quiet French Quarter.

Lively French Quarter!

Bars for music and drinks!

Buzz Nola Bike Tours (we did the electric bike tour) Such a great time! Learned a ton and got to see more than I would running or walking, or pedaling for that matter.

Airboat Adventures– This was AWESOME.

Baby alligator!

Big Gator. 

And Steve who has no fear…

Couples that gator together, stay together!

They put a lot of powered sugar on the beignets at Cafe du Monde.

I preferred them with local craft beer at Morning Call.

And Morning Call had great muffaletta’s. Just check out Steve’s reaction to how good they were.

Palladar 511. Another great place to eat. Super trendy menu. Everything was fantastic.

Our air b&b. Left to Right: Joe, Amanda, Patrick, Pat, Liz, Josh, Steve, Me, Kathy. Can’t tell you how much I love each person in the photo below. 

And they brought the game, “Hearing Things.” I haven’t laughed this hard in a while.

New Orleans was amazing, we’re already planning to go back (hopefully next year). We did so much, but there is so much more to do and see. It was way better than I was expecting or what i thought I knew from movies, tv, etc. There’s a vibe out there different than any place I’ve ventured thus far, and I need more of it.

Last minute taper tips?

Ever been to NOLA?