Do you like apples?

3:08 and change.

Showtime

I am headed to the train station, then to Philly, then to the hotel, then to pick up the race number, and so on until I eventually start the task at about 8 eastern tomorrow. Three and change and it will be all over but the blogging.

The weather should be absolutely perfect. I am absolutely pain free. I guess it really comes down to whether I have done enough training and whether I have the guts to really REALLY push it, or not.

The risk you run when you put a lot of yourself into something is that "if" you fail, it is so personal. We shall see.

Thanks to everyone for your support. I will post something Sunday evening.

Out.

On Corporate Decision Making

I work in the Manhattan headquarters of a pretty big company. I happen to work on the same floor as the company's top dog. The facility, because of the vip tenants, is nicer than your normal corporate space.

Yet, the actual facilities leave something to be desired in terms of privacy. We have a small three stall, two upright setup with a modest two sink foyer. It is a simple affair and clearly not built with luxury or privacy in mind.

Last week, a rather short man, mid 40's, bald and bowtied was midstream when I arrived. (Yep, the big dog) I greeted him, saddled up next door, and began MY thing. This froze him, or rather froze his flow. I guess I should explain this phenomenon to the ladies. Sometimes when 1. Under particular duress, or 2. In extreme proximity, or 3. Otherwise surprised, some men shut down operations. The technical term for this is the Fenway Freeze though I think it is known on the street as Paruresis. Regarding this particular episode of bladder shyness, he stayed until I left and I assume everything began again as intended.

I didn't make much of it except for recounting the story once or twice with friends (ok, maybe a half dozen times).

Anyway, this morning as I sent my morning coffee out to used coffee heaven, I noticed that we now have a pretty damn substantial divider installed between the urinals....first class executive privacy. Now that, my friends, has command decision written all over it.

This week, everything gets put on the back burner. EVERYTHING. It is all about me and it is all about this marathon.

It really is only fair to focus in exclusively on the essentials of the race at this point. To get distracted now would be to waste, at least in part, all of the work that led up to this point.

Running, distance running, is a pretty self focused (read: selfish) endeavor. But I think having a really great race will help balance all of that out. I am a much better runner than I was a year ago. I am certainly in the ballpark of being capable of the 3:10 I have focused on. And, I really REALLY enjoy the sport again.

1. I reread a Steve Prefontaine biography last night.
2. I will do a quick reread of Running with Buffaloes.
3. I will avoid John Bingham like the freaking plague.
4. I will start visualizing my inner runner.
5. Yesterday I ran 12 miles, my last run of any real substance. 1:32. It felt like floating. I am ready.
6. Philly forecast for Sunday....partly cloudy 41 low / 53 high. Perfect.
7. Does anyone know where I can find a kingsize back burner?)

November 11

Veterans Day 2005. I am kicking myself for missing the parade and for not wearing some old medals on my suit the way Russian politician/veterans used to.

"My younger brother calls me a killer and my Daddy calls me a vet..."

I think that was from a Charlie Daniel's song. Of course, I don't have a younger brother and both may Dad and I were/are vets though we never referred to each other as such.

This is totally an underated "holiday" in my opinion. What? The Post Office is closed? Big deal. With so little fanfare around this day, I always wonder why so many young men and women sacrifice so much when it so easy just to freeride in this wealthy and soft country of ours. It baffles me. Don't take it for granted folks.

I am going to run an easy six.

Ok. I am back, renewed for another season as it were. We rejoin the action 11 days out from the main event...

The last few days before the race come down to this:

Brains 1 --A smart taper
"I don't think it's really rocket science. You just run easier and run less for two weeks." So says my marathoning friend. Sounds good to me. I ran an 18 miler last week, fighting off the urge to do another 20. G and I had a solid speed workout over the weekend, 4 x 1.5 miles at 10 mile race pace down at Riverside Park. We followed it up a day later with an 8 miler, me on foot and him on a slightly too large mountain bike. Basically, I am trying to maintain intensity while dropping volume. Also, more sleep, sleep is good.

Brains 2 -- A smart race
I have thought a lot about this. I am an even splits guy. Meaning, I run best running the second half at the same speed as the first. In fact, regarding longer races, my best ones always start off with a slow first mile and then a fun race where I literally can pass people the whole time. I think it is totally a psychological thing. I will probably start way WAY back in the chute just to be sure I don't jump out too fast.

Courage
This is a tricky one. G and I cheered runners at the NYC Marathon on Sunday. Seeing thousands of them go by at around the 20 mile mark could have been inspiring. That was the goal. Instead, it was a real reminder that this is a tough distance. are ee ess pee eee sea tea! I will be doing a few things to get my mind right over the next few days. More on that later.

Luck
Oh, I covered the good luck thing this weekend by touching a big set of these!

Weather
I think tomorrow pokes into the 10 day forecast window. A commodity analyst tells me weather snaps back to seasonal averages (read: gets colder) on the 18th. After seeing the impact of heat on the masses of NYC Marathon runners on Sunday, all I can say is bring on the cold.