To The Windy City I Shall Go…

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon and tagged with , , , ,

And it’s time!!! Holy cow, I can’t believe it’s time!

Tomorrow, I will be in Chicago getting ready for 26.2!!!! It’s crazy!!! I’m beyond excited and really, I feel good.

I feel like this training has been the best of the 4 that I’ve done. I’ve felt strong after each long run, have gone the entire way injury free (thank you sweet baby Jesus), and am the most confident I’ve ever been going into a marathon.

People have asked me about goals. Yeah, I got ’em. And if you’ve been a reader for a while, then you already know what it is.

I’ve always been a conservative runner. Maybe to a fault. Some say, I’m overly realistic. Too cautious. Okay, a scaredy cat.

Whatevs.

But yeah, my goals are always goals that are the perfect amount of tough–I still have to work hard for it as in they’re not easily attainable, but they’re still definitely doable. It’s just the type of person I am. I like challenging myself, but not to the point where I don’t give myself a decent shot.

So I’d like to get a sub 4:30. My PR is 4:44–set back in February of 2014, my very 1st marathon run 7 months after having my second baby in two years.

Am I a better runner than I was then? It was less than two years ago and I’ve run one marathon since then (trained for two but yeah, Phoenix DNF) but I’d like to think I am, and I feel like I’m stronger. Could I possibly run faster than 4:30?

Sure, probably.

But that’s my goal.

If all the stars were to align, if I woke up Sunday morning deciding to throw caution to the wind, if I said, Helly–go balls out and see what happens, then a 4:15 would make me ridiculously happy.

A 4:15 would mean a 9:45ish pace. A pace that normally I’d feel would be totally doable. But 26.2 miles is no joke. And if I’m to be frank, yeah, I’m scared.

This is something I need to work on if I want to improve as a runner. I know I gotta take risks sometimes. My charity coach, after working with me this training and coming to know my conservativeness with goals, told me, “Helly, to achieve a goal you gotta be afraid to fail, and fail big”.

That’s so hard.

I don’t know why, but something about getting a sub 4:30 I feel would make it easier for me to take more risks–but only after I meet that goal. Right now, it’s the perfect amount of difficult–a time that seems hard to reach but one that if I try my hardest, I can achieve. I don’t know, I just feel I gotta get that under my belt first, before attempting something faster.

I’ve read/seen others make vast improvements on their times, runners who had similar marathon PRs as me and then jumped to 4 hours or very close to. But making, or attempting to make, such a big time jump is so daunting to me.

I think I like baby steps???

Anyway, that’s my goal and I’m sticking to it. I’ve also learned from Phoenix Marathon that the ultimate goal is finishing, so beyond that 4:30, I really just want to cross the finish line — That would be enough to make me happy. 🙂

 

I can’t express enough how thankful I am for all of your support throughout my training. You guys stuck with me through my intense heat and crazy early morning runs. I have so much motivation–my charity and donors, my blogging buddies, my friends, and my family. All of you are going to carry me through, I just know it! See ya at the finish line!

❤ , helly

Eagle_variant

–Are you a risk taker? Or are you an over-thinker, cautious runner like I am?

20 responses

  4. I love how you made your goal. It makes the experience so much more enjoyable to not put extreme pressures on yourself! Good Luck Love- you will do great! 🙂

    Reply

  5. I am totally an over-thinker!!! LIke the way I’ve over thought my lack of training in the past couple of weeks from a serious sinus infection. 😦 My plan is to go run with 45000 runners and totally embrace Chicago. 🙂 I really hope I run into you at the expo!!! Have an awesome run!!!!

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  6. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
    -Marianne Williamson

    Just like me, maybe you’re too concerned with the numbers. I, for one, hope I can let go of that and enjoy the experience. And look at what your greatness has done already! I wouldn’t be standing next to you on Sunday if it weren’t for you! Thank you for the inspiration!

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    • Totally, but I always wonder and like knowing and reading how others do with their goals and that’s a big reason why I put it out there. If I make my goals or not, there’s something to learn and share about it, you know? 🙂 Thank you so much for your support! ❤

      Reply

  10. I take risks and then I analyze it to death. I do both, naturally. I exhaust myself. Helly, I am so proud of you for your training, for those incredibly difficult long runs in the middle of the night, and all the times you were so tired from work, from kids, and you still got out there and slogged out the miles. I said it before and I say it again, you truly are a huge inspiration to me and to so many people. Have a great run this weekend, and I know that whatever you do, you will do it well.

    Reply

  13. I was traveling this weekend so I am just getting caught up now – I still haven’t creeped on how you did but I’m getting to it – I HOPE IT WAS AWESOME! Now off to stalk more of your blog posts and Instagram to find out what happened 🙂

    Reply