Trust the Training

Although I've spent a lot of time thinking about "the wall" I've also spent a lot of time reviewing my training. I've spent 18 weeks preparing for this moment and I know my legs are strong enough to carry me through. Going over my long runs in my head, it's helpful to remember that on almost every run, I was able to run negative splits through the last several miles and pull off a strong finish. This was especially reassuring during my 20-miler when I was able to slowly pick-up speed over the last nine miles of the run. Which brings me to my next area of focus.

Have a Plan and Stick to It

I know that Sunday, above all else, is going to be such an exciting day, and it will be easy to get carried away, especially in the beginning. If my long runs have taught me anything, it's the importance of starting slow and saving plenty of gas for the back end of the race. My plan is to treat the race like a 17-mile training run with a 9-mile race at the end. I have my pace strategy, I have my fueling strategy, and I even put together a spectator strategy for everyone coming down to watch the race. Preparation helps me relax so I'm spending these last few days trying to cover every detail!