Off the deep end.

For some reason, well, ok, it’s because of Nic, I’ve signed up for my first 1/2 marathon.  Actually I’m currently signed up for three of them, soon to be four.  But back to blaming Nic.  Nic is this guy that I work with.  He’s a runner.  Or an Ultra-runner.  Or whatever they call themselves these days.  Basically he runs 50 to 100 miles.  At a time.  He feeds my impulsive behavior with things like, “I believe anyone can run at least 3.1 miles at any given time” or, “It’s only 13.1 miles.  You can do that, easy”.  I’ll give him the first one, I did manage 3.1 the very first time out this year though I was purple in the face and couldn’t speak when we were running.  He, meanwhile, blabbered on and on.  But really?  Thirteen point one miles?  Me?  I’m skeptical.

The race is the Inaugural Salty’s Half Marathon to be held October 17 on Alki.  It’s one of those out and backs.  And I would consider it fortunate that this is the path that we already do most of our runs on and most of our bike rides too.  So I’ll know the route and how far I have left to go.  Or is that unfortunate?  Is it better to know how far you must go before you reach the finish line?  Or should it just be a surprise and pop up when you least expect it?  Personally, I like to know where the finish line is.  If I don’t know where it is it feels like I’m not making progress.  Or what if I think it’s right around the corner, like at the Susan G. Komen and really it was another mile away.  How disheartening.  Plus, I like neat finishes and what’s neater than ending where you start?  Coming full circle, and all that.

I’ve had a few anxiety dreams about the race.  I don’t think I had any for the 0ther races, including the Danskin.  What’s that all about?  I’m a little concerned about the time limit, set at 2 hours, 45 minutes.  If I can keep my Iron Girl pace for the whole 13.1 miles I’ll just make it.  But knowing myself I’ll probably slow down after the first 6 miles.  I’m not really concerned whether or not I’ll finish.  I’ve got too much pride to quit so if I have to crawl across the finish line 5 hours after I start then so be it.  I figure since we’ve been running 5 or 6 miles lately that that is now my base and an additional 7 1/2 miles will be on par to running the Iron Girl.  Yeah, I’m going to hurt but I’m confident about the training I’ve been doing and I’m hoping and assuming I’m not going to hurt that bad.  I’ll let you know on Sunday.  But back to blaming Nic.

Nic belongs to some group called Marathon Maniacs.  This is a group of people who like to run marathons.  Or other crazy distances like 50 or 100 miles.  At a time.  Nic is constantly trying to get me to run further than I’m comfortable, which is why I signed up for a half marathon after only running one 10k.  And since I’m going to run one half marathon, why not run another one?  So I went and signed up for the Eugene Marathon in May 2010.  And hey, while I’m at it, if I do three in 90 days I can join the Half Fanatics, the half marathoner version of Marathon Maniacs.  So, I signed up for First Call to Run on January 1st.  That makes three.  But not in 90 days.  I need another one somewhere in November or December.  Oh, lookit, the Seattle 1/2 marathon is November 29 (happy birthday BAD).  Salty’s, Seattle 1/2 and the First Call would be my three in 90 days, putting me firmly in the dreaded Uranus category of Half Fanatic-ism.  And there’s some talk about running the Surf City half marathon in February in Southern California.  And maybe one up in Canada.  And maybe another one in Mexico next fall.  But first I need to finish my first half marathon.  And I’ll get that opportunity two days from now.