Run Fatboy Run. by arminakas

They say that 90% of the marathon is run in your head. Well, for the amount of running I did last night in my sleep, I  think I should change my name to Eddie Izzard!! Seriously, the thought of running 19 miles on Sunday is worrying me. I don't even think it's the distance that's causing the worry. Finding 4, 6 and even 9 mile routes is relatively easy (my 9 mile run was 2 laps of my 4.5 mile route). Trying to find a 19 mile route is proving to be a little tedious. I can't find a nice solid section of road to run on that lasts for more than 5 miles. All roads out of here amount to fast black-spot roads without pavements. Grrrr...

Looking back over the last 4 months of training {insert Nike+ link} it's plain to see that I've done a lot of little runs but no really long ones until recently. I don't think that's helping in the battle of body over brains. In the past 4 weeks I've gone from 3 miles to 4, 6, 9, 13 and now I'm planning a 19 mile run, solo. I know that I can do it, but that doesn't stop the doubt.
Running the half marathon was ok; knowing that I was in the same boat as the other people running with me, giving me the confidence that I could do it. Safe in the knowledge that after 3 1/2 months training, I could keep up with the rest of them. Running the same distance, plus an extra 6 miles on top and doing it solo, that's a daunting task. Don't get me wrong, my lovely wife will be helping me along, playing support car and handing out water and energy drinks every mile or so. I'll have pockets full of carb gels, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a bloody long way. It's no marathon, I know, but it's still a bloody long way!
I think that in the half marathon, it was the other runners that kept me going. Not that there was time, nor breath in my lungs for chit chat, but just the knowledge that we were all there for the same reason. That's what got me through. Running in the marathon I imagine will be a similar experience, but with added crowds cheering everyone on. I'm incredibly confident that I will finish the marathon in spite of, if not because of the screaming that my muscles will be doing, together with the other runners, enduring the same feelings of fatigue and pain but carrying on regardless because we all need to get to the finish. All of the first time marathon runners that will be rejoicing, screaming, crying, and begging to be able to cross the finishing line. Marathon, piece of cake. Solo running, frightening the crap out of me.

So here I am, in Starbucks pouring my fears into my iPhone... Trying to plan a route for the 19 mile long run. The last long run before the marathon. I know I can run it, I've made it this far with an injury, which is an incredible achievement for 4 months training.

Come on people, if I can do it, so can you.