Cheese burgers can be great motivator

I was driving to work this morning and I was visualizing.
Visualizing the race and the finish line in Cincinnati.
I do this before every big race and it helps.
It sounds a little silly, but I’ve been doing it for years. And, on a training run, I will picture my friends waiting for me on the sidelines as I run by.
I picture meeting my goal. I picture running a personal best. I picture looking around and feeling the exhilaration of race day.
Sometimes I picture cheese burgers.
Actually, I picture cheese burgers and nachos a lot.
They’re my post race favourites.
I do this while I drive, while I sit at my desk and before I go to sleep.
It helps motivate me.
Another thing that helps motivate me is the group of runners around me who wished me well Wednesday night.
We’ve trained together through the winter months and through the rain and will definitely come to mind when I’m struggling.
Last night, as we sat around a table having our usual post run coffee, I suddenly felt as if I was on the Price is Right.
I’ve held my time goal close to my chest this time for fear of not being able to make it.
As usual I have an A goal, B goal and C goal.
I always tell people to do this, so that if you happen to wake up and have a bad run, you still have a goal you can meet.
All I will divulge is that my C goal is a personal best.
So the bids started, 4:15, 4:09: 4:00.
They started saying times, figuring I’d buckle.
I have a good poker face.
Rest assured I will tell you after what I was aiming for and if I got it.
I only told one person about two weeks ago and he will not tell a soul.
This is, after all, the reason we train.
It’s race weekend and as I frantically check the forecast and make sure I have all my race gels lined up, I’m also figuring out slogans for my bib and my arm.
What goes on the arm is for when I hit the wall.
The wall comes in various forms and for me it means feeling as if my legs are moving fast when they’re really not. This usually happens around 36 or 37K.
I’ve had great training and great races preceding this run, so I have high hopes.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the volunteers and spectators cheering us on.
So oink, oink, by the time you read this I will be well on my way to the Flying Pig Marathon down in Cincinnati, as giddy as can be.
Thanks to all of you have supported me the whole way through.