Positive Thoughts…

Occupying your time during the taper can be a major challenge.  Reducing your mileage so significantly has pluses and minuses.  Allowing your body to recover is clearly the major advantage.  But managing the volume of marathon-related thoughts can be difficult.

Second guessing whether you’re sufficiently trained and wondering if you’ll actually be able to complete the marathon distance are likely omnipresent.  Focusing on the positive aspects of your marathon journey will benefit your mental state far more than getting bogged down in the negative.

Consider how far you’ve progressed since we began training in early December.  Did you imagine then a 12 mile run would be an easy run?  Did you imagine that you would make so many incredible friendships or that your fundraising levels would be as high as they are?  Did you imagine that you would look at the world and the role you’re playing so differently? 

Training for the Boston Marathon is life altering.  The reality is you’re going to be a much different person in a few short weeks.  Sure, your core values are not likely to change dramatically but the way you view yourself and what you’re capable of achieving will undoubtedly change forever.

Your thoughts are currently focused on simply crossing the finish line.  From my perspective, I have no doubt that every Marathon Coalition runner will complete the distance.  You have followed the training program and followed my advice so you’ve completed all that is necessary to arrive at the starting line brimming with confidence.  The money is in the bank and you’ll soon be living on the interest.  I’ve always said the marathon changes people more than anything I’ve ever witnessed.  Certainly earning an advanced degree, getting married and having children are all life-altering experiences…but the marathon has an incredible special impact on your entire being.

Couple that with the effort you’ve made to make a significant difference in the lives of others and it’s simply a magical combination.  I hope that you take time to consider how inspired others will be by your effort.  Family, friends and co-workers will begin wondering what they’re capable of by witnesses how transformational this experience has been for you.  Yes, some will say, “If he/she can do this than I darn sure can do it!”  But most will be inspired to test themselves just as you have.

It has always amazed me that a few short hours in the context of just one day can impact one’s life forever.  The Boston Marathon is like a wedding day…it’s so magical yet so elusive.  You want to slow the passing of time to capture and savor every moment.  Don’t rush to complete your journey from Hopkinton to Boston…enjoy the excitement, nervousness, the sounds, the smells, all the comments and encouragement you receive, the final turn onto Boylston Street with the finish banner in sight…savor the moment you cross the finish line and the finisher’s medal is placed around your neck.

You have become an official finisher of the 2011 Boston Marathon…that title will be with you forever.  That experience will change you forever!