Wisconsin Half Marathon Preview

This time tomorrow I plan to be finished with what I consider to be my first BIG race of the season: The Wisconsin Half Marathon in Kenosha, WI. I've been training for this thing for 13 weeks and I really hope that it pays off. I'm admittedly nervous (okay, try scared to death) but I'm going to try my hardest not to psych myself out.

Why am I nervous? While I've done two half marathons neither one went as smoothly as I would like. There was more walking than I wanted, I had some mild panic attacks, and I definitely hit some walls. And although all my runs this year have gone great, I didn't do any of my long runs with water or fuel. Which means I'm unsure of how to proceed in terms of both during the race.

Plus, I just have such a hard time understanding how adrenaline and excitement can make up for running all your long runs at a pace almost a minute slower than your race day pace...and for less distance! I suppose I just need to get into the mindset that my training will carry me through regardless.

Or, as a friend on Facebook said, "There is no wall, there is no wall, there is no wall."

As with my previous half marathons, I have a continuum of goals. They are:

Goal A: Finish (that's always goal A)
Goal B: Finish without walking (except for perhaps at some water stops)
Goal C: Get a new PR (under 2:13)
Goal D: Finish under 2:10
Goal E: Finish under 2:00

Admittedly, Goal E is the one I really really really want to do (and the one I'll be aiming for) but race day can bring anything and I don't want to be disappointed with whatever happens. So, as long as I complete goal A I will be pleased.

Now, with that out of the way, onto the more important things. What am I wearing??

Okay, I know the "rule" of running is "nothing new on race day". Yet, when I searched my dresser for something to wear it all seemed so blah. Plus, the weather is going to be 50/50 on whether it's t-shirt or tank-top temperature. Now, of course I could wear something I've worn before, but I have this thing about not repeating something I've already worn to a race. So last night I went to Kohl's and found a tank top on the clearance rack for $4.80! As of right now I'm planning on wearing this:



With my black running skirt and my white Adidas visor (which I washed in the sink last night). Hopefully flouting the nothing new on race day rule doesn't come back to bite me in the butt.

So, think of me tomorrow morning as you roll over in your bed at 7AM. Or, if you're in the area, come on out to cheer. And for those of you reading this that are racing somewhere else tomorrow (like my hometown. I just looked at the race course for that race this morning and it goes right past my parents' house!) best of luck to you and may you meet all the goals you set out!