Preparing for Chicago...

I have a small event in just 11 days.  Yep, I running the Chicago Marathon again this year in 11 days...yikes! 

I really have not talked much about it, since I was unsure up until a few weeks ago if I would even be able to pull it off.  I have been worried all Summer that I would some how re-fraction my leg.  Kind of like when I broke my foot a few years ago.  I still shout at Ken "that's my broken foot"  when he touches it too hard.  Dramatic?  Maybe a little.  :)

My longest run for training was 18 miles.  That might panic some, but I have never been one to run multiple 20 mile training runs.  I think it is a waste of time and energy.  I am using Chicago as a training run for my big plans in November, the NYC Marathon.  With that being said, it will still be 26.2 miles I am running on October 9th, and this should not be taken lightly. 

What have I been doing to prepare?

• I  have been making sure I am drinking 100 ounces of water.  Last year being well hydrated the week prior is the only thing that saved me during the heat.
• I am obsessively checking the weather forecast.  So what that the 10 day forecast only shows until Friday and the marathon is on Sunday.  I have extra time to kill.
• I struggled to run seven miles on Monday.  Yep, I complained during the last mile.  I mean, a marathon is 19.2 miles further than I struggled to run on Monday.  October 9th might be a bad day.  Ken might be drunk by the time I come rolling into the finish area at the six and a half hour time cut off.
• I am eating extra Reese's Peanut Butter pumpkins.  Everything taste better shaped as a pumpkin, trust me on this.  Actually, do not take my word, try it for yourself.
• I have been telling my entire office that I am off next Friday and the following Monday.  I think they are ready for me to be gone.  No Keri equals no Keri talking about being off work and about the marathon that is fastly approaching in 11 days!!
• I am trying to figure out my race day outfit.  I mean, even though I am not going to be all that fast, I still need to look cute. 

Here's hoping for a cool Fall day on October 9th.  If it is cool, I might somehow pull off a decent time.  My main goal is to go out there and have fun, but let's be real here.  We all know that I will be out there with every intention to beat 3:56, even if it means I cannot walk the next day.  This should be interesting...