Last Steps

I did my last training run this morning! Due to cold temperatures and the fact that I'm still nursing this cold, I did 2 1/2 miles on the treadmill. I feel I must add here that I cannot emphasize how mind-numbingly boring it is for me to run on a treadmill. Ugh. But it's done and by now I have run approximately 430 miles in my pursuit of the Mickey medal

I feel like the first 17 weeks of training have gone pretty well but this last week, I've experienced several hurdles. First I got sick a week before the race, now there's 5-7 inches of snow forecast for right about when my flight is supposed to leave, Florida is experiencing a freak cold snap causing race temperatures are going to be at least 20 degrees colder than normal (which wrecks havoc with running ensemble I planned months ago). And...some terrorist idiot tried to bomb a plane 2 weeks ago so now security checks at airports are going to be even more obnoxious than they already were. Sigh...

All the recent stressors are probably the cause of my marathon nightmare last night. I dreamed that I never got the commemorative pin I ordered a year ago, there were no Disney Marathon items to buy at the expo, and worst of all, I didn't finish the race. I, for some inexplicable reason, quit at mile 23 and was so disappointed in myself and the fact I didn't get my Mickey medal. I woke up profoundly sad until I realized that it was a dream. Then I was just freaked out and it inspired me to get out of bed before my alarm went off to do my last run.

So now my preparation is done, my bags are packed and I'm looking forward to a pre-marathon pasta party with friends tonight. Barring any weather disasters, my flight leaves tomorrow morning and I'll be in warm, er, sunny, er, peninsula-shaped Florida.

At least I'm still in possession of all my toenails.