Final Countdown

This morning marked my very last training run before Sunday's half marathon.  I ran five miles around the neighborhood - to LaGuardia airport and back, then on to Astoria Park with its amazing view of the Manhattan skyline.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about the coming race.  I'm unbelievably excited, first and foremost.  I can't wait to get on that plane to Myrtle Beach, to see my sister for the first time since her wedding last month, to actually run the 13.1 miles, and to eat all the glorious food that will fuel us up before and after.  Also she said something about a hot tub and an indoor pool at the hotel, so there's that...

I feel really prepared, which isn't necessarily something I anticipated feeling.  I think part of me really thought the training was going to kill me!  I still can't really believe that I've run as much as I have these last months.

Amidst all the excitement and pride, I'm also feeling both sad and relieved.  I don't have a desire to run a full marathon (sorry, Megan!) and this is the "last first time" I'll train for a half.  The discovery of my ability to just plain do it has been really rewarding and special, and it's an experience I want to savor before life blazes forward like it does.  Training for this race has been one of the best ways to appreciate the gorgeous transition into fall.  Being outside more, being in the most nature-heavy parts of this city, and watching the leaves turn even more beautiful today than they were yesterday has been so wonderful.  The runs where I don't have any music or any podcast have been incredible ways to think through problems, zone out and daydream, visualize the race, and meditate.

Despite my reluctance to let this moment in time go, there is certainly a part of me that will greatly appreciate the space this will open up in my life.  As much as I have loved Sunday morning runs in Central Park - especially when Marc comes with me and joins me for a fabulous post run brunch - it will be nice to have a day during the week where I don't have to wake up to an alarm clock.  I can turn my attention to my best autumn friend - my Crock Pot!  I'll have a little more space for yoga, and a little more space to plan that little wedding that's happening in a little over five months.  I'm also expecting Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Kitchen cookbook in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to get experimenting with new healthy recipes!

I'll also have more space to reread (yep, reread) an absolutely wonderful book that I just devoured:  the sequel to Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project that I was so insanely obsessed with last fall, Happier at Home.  It's very similar to her first book, she just delves more deeply and tackles some different resolutions.  It's fun, fascinating, and as compulsively readable as a novel (or maybe a novel in blog-style).  It completely appeals to me, as a resolution-making, goal-setting, chart-loving, self-improvement and organization freak.

So in two days I'll be off to beautiful Myrtle Beach, SC, and I'm sure the following week's blog will be a recap of the amazing weekend.  Soon, though - back to book reports, non-running ponderings, and oh yeah - yoga!

Happy Thursday, Internets!