Ready to run...

The Columbus Marathon is on Sunday. I'm leaving for downstate tomorrow morning, going to wave hello to the Mackinac Bridge, and will hopefully miss the rush hour traffic of Detroit and Ann Arbor. Saturday morning will be a relaxed departure from my parents' home in Monroe to my friend Kendra's place, right in the heart of Columbus. We're going to pick up our race packets and then?... I will get to see my cousin and her newborn baby, hang out with one of my awesome MegaTough teammates, and just chill out for the evening. I have a lackadaisical attitude about the whole thing, and I'm not sure if that is good or bad. Columbus isn't my "A" race (that designation was given to IMoo), but - of course- I still want to do well. I was hesitant to set any steep goals, but the way training has been going and how I've been feeling the last four weeks, I thought, what the hell.

My goals:
A- Finish around 3:15. This is seven minutes faster than my PR, mind you.
B- Finish under 3:30. That would make Columbus at least my second-fastest marathon.
C- BQ

If I don't complete "C", I will be disappointed. I will probably still be a little bummed if I don't get goal "B" as well, but I guess I can't really predict what will happen on race day. It could blizzard... or something worse.

How am I going to try and reach my "A" goal? Here's my race day strategy:

-Settle into a good rhythm, focus on form and breathing
-Go out the first around 47min. Not too much faster than that (7:30-7:35s)
-Get to half around 1:38-39. Again, not too much faster than that. (same pace)
-Second half needs to be in 1:36, so after halfway, pick up pace to 7:20-25s.
-Last 10K, hopefully have enough in the tank to give'r a little more. 7:15-20s.

I think it's doable. We'll see on Sunday!