The more people know...

...the more I know I can do this. I saw a friend tonight who I haven't seen in awhile and, in catching up, I told her about NYC and doing it for NSAL. She said she'd make a donation once my fundraising page had been set up (which I've called twice about now). When I think about the marathon now it's in the abstract -- training hasn't officially kicked in, it's months away, I haven't started fundraising. When I think about it I picture 2 things: the start on the Verrazano and the finish and getting my medal. I don't think too much about the 26.2 miles in between because I'm pretty sure if I did I'd psyche myself right out.

But when I tell people I feel a pressure -- a good pressure -- to get this thing done. I'm so grateful that I have 3 people in my family who have done NYC because when I am struggling mentally with my training, I know I can call upon them for support. My uncle already gave me a great visual, he said when you come off the Queensborough bridge and there are thousands of people cheering you feel like it's just for you and you're the only runner out there. It will be images like that I'll hold onto when I'm pushing out some junk miles.

I'm right at that stage where it's still far enough away but the beginning of training is coming soon. I'm anxious. I want to get the show on the road. Even though these weeks of maintenance running and strengthening my base is critical to the actual training I still just want to start ticking off the weeks of my program down to the big event.