So, 14 days until Race Day. I’m in the midst of tapering now. Mind is racing already, thinking about what to bring, what to wear, whether or not to carry water/etc on the course.
I was reading the Course preview a little earlier. They did it live, but alas, I don’t live in Memphis and couldn’t go. But here is a preview of the course someone wrote on their blog a year ago. It’s still the same course.
St Jude Marathon Course Preview.
I was reading through. I believe that the key mental areas for me are going to be the half marathon split off, where likely heavy crowds go away and I’ll be left running with only a few people around me from that point on, heading out east again for essentially a second loop.
Then Probably around Mile 22/23 hill combination. Although I have no race experience with it. On my long runs, whenever I’ve run just over the farthest I’ve ran before is when things get hard. I’m sure adrenaline will carry the day. Perhaps I’ll find a pickup from some of the runners or crowd around me. I can’t wait for the Stadium finish. I hope that will be as fun as it sounds, even though all the half marathoners and the crowds that they would have will be long gone before I get to come through.
Also, upon reading the course preview, my favorite point will be running past the Zoo. Please have a guy in a panda suit there. I totally wanna high five a panda during my 26.2.