Ummm....apparently I'm running 16+ miles in 3 days....

What??

When did this happen!?    

Oh, right.....I signed up for the half-marathon (and was then talked into signing up for a post-half 5K) two or three months ago, when I was running and strength training much more regularly in preparation for the National Marathon, and I thought I would be in excellent shape by May 7.  In fact, I remember thinking to myself that, since this particular half-marathon course is so flat, it might even be a prime occasion to a new PR--possibly even a sub-2 hour PR!

Well, it's May 3/4th (depending on when I am able to finish this post) and I am very far from the lean, mean running machine I had envisioned months ago.  In fact, I'm feeling like a weak blubbery pile of goo with creaky knees. I am not feeling confident about this endeavor one little bit. 

A few of my friends have reminded me that only a little over a month ago, I ran the marathon, so I should be okay.  But, aside from the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler, a month ago today, my longest runs have been about 4 miles.  And my strength training has been almost non-existent.  I haven't quite figured out why....I thought for a while that my body was taking an unusual amount of time to adjust to daylight savings time, but I'm not really sure. I think it is a combination of things that have been taking up bits of my "energy pie," leaving little to no energy left for working out.  I've been feverishly applying for jobs and interviewing--both internally and externally--which is an extremely time-consuming and mentally draining.  I have also been on the prowl for a new apartment, as I am moving out of my condo in June.  Obviously though, where I move will be directly impacted by how my many job interviews pan out, so I have been hesitant to commit to a new residence quite yet.  Also, I've been online dating for over a month now, another time-consuming yet sedentary adventure.  And, although most of my dates thus far have been one-and-done, they still require not being a sweaty gross post-workout mess (except for that one post-marathon date. ;)) Also, most all of them tend to require alcohol consumption, which has been excessive lately too.   

Anyway, the upshot of this is that a.) I'm VERY nervous about this race.  b.) I am going to go slower than I would like to....hopefully I will surprise myself rather than embarrass myself, but I honestly do not have high expectations.   My expectation for this race went from "New-PR-Awesomeness" to "Just-finish," which is a really low bar and I haate having my expectations there.  It is my own fault for not training properly enough to achieve my goals, but it's still frustrating.  I'm frustrated with myself.

I must however "just finish" though because, if I don't, not only will I not get this race's very big-and-fabulous medal, but I will also miss out on the very big-and-fabulous "Maryland Double" medal I'll receive (earn) this fall after I complete the Baltimore Marathon.  I am planning on this year being my last year for the Baltimore Marathon, at least for a while, so if I miss the opportunity for the Double this year, it might be several years before I'll try again. 

Furthermore, I have almost no incentive to complete the 5K.  I believe it's dubbed the "Mid-Day 5K" because it starts at noon or 12:30pm.  I actually did not do this math until last night:  If the half starts at 7:30am, even if I go horribly slowly, I'll still be finished by 10am.  Then I have to "wait" (not drink too much) until noon for the 5K.  There is a strong possibility that I will not be participating.  Especially since I am very likely to be celebrating with Eggs Benedict and libations immediately following the Half, should I finish.  We'll see....maybe a surge of motivation will strike me at just the right moment, but the post-half-midday-5K might get taken off the table...

Motivation: