To Dream The Impossible Dream

Marathon Plan - Regressive Countdown - Week Two
11/17/08 - 11/23/08
Week Total: 21.4

This week started with my 52th Birthday, a year wiser, a year older, and definitely, running-wise, a year stronger.

I missed not being with my husband on my Bday for third year in a row (California and Washington State living... when will this end?) but still I had multiple celebrations, starting with a nice little banquet with my son and his fiancee. My son prepared for me delicious baked oysters that were A-number 1. We had as main dish a great pork loin with beautiful black and white farfalle (gorgeous!!! and recommended). And for dessert, my daughter-in-law to-be had a yummy cheese-cake.

I also went out to dinner twice with different group of friends. I talked on the phone for hours with my daughter in Thailand and two of my best friends (one in Florida and one in California), talked to mom who is in Venezuela, but couldn't talk with my older kid who was in Japan. I received more than a hundred messages of congratulations (thanks God for 21st century communications). Important to note that most of my friends have been friends for more than 30 years, and for that I am thankful and blessed.

Now, the week is ending with an itchy throat, an itchy ear, itchy eyes, a headache, stuffy nose and I just pray they are allergies (to what?) and not a cold, (taking Zicam, just in case). Setting that on the side (I don't even want to think about it), my last week of training ended really good.

Saturday's forecast was cold and overcast. I had my wind stopper ear band, my Mizuno gloves, tights, technical long sleeve and my breath thermo. Miraculously, the sun decided to shine (kinda) and the 42F/5.5 C felt nice and warm for the first 5 miles when the sun decided to go away. The highlight of the run was my adorable hubby's present: a Polar running watch. I tested it during this last "long run" of 10 miles. Even though I tried not to run for time (advice from some of you) I couldn't avoid it. This gizmo gave me a lot of confidence on my pace, an after six months running my long runs on the same route, I finally understood with numbers (*) the ups and downs of each mile (before, I was measuring the splits with a post-it and a pen when I hit the mile marks).

(*) As an engineer and a stats-freak I need numbers....

Well friends, the training is over... In Spanish we say: Here is where the river brought me...Now let's get the job done next Sunday 11/30/2008. A great news is that the forecast, so far, for Marathon day is High 53 Low 42, partly cloudy, no showers. That'll be a gift from Heaven... but knowing Seattle... that can change!!!

I am ready, everything is ready. Gear, shoes, pod, watch, Ipod, GUs. I'll have three miles on Tue and three on Turkey Day, Friday the Expo at the Westin... But the best of all is having the Thanksgiving Holiday for resting and mentally prepping...

What is my goal?

My Dream Goal is a sub-5, and if it's possible or not, I have it as my dream (an impossible dream?)
My Great Goal is 5-5:15
My Realistic Goal is 5:15 - 5:30
My Ok Goal is 5:30 - 5:45
My Oh Well Goal is > 5:45

Chris B. and Charlie have taught me two great lessons during their past marathon endeavors (Rock & Roll Arizona Marathon and Chicago Marathon respectively). There are variables we cannot control, and there are things that go out of hands.

No matter what, our tenacity is there and the finish line is welcome, but if we still DNF we had the courage to go there wanting To Dream The Impossible Dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!