T-3 days! - Kara

It's so hard to believe that our big day is only 3 days away!
We've worked so hard and we've come so far!
Rest for me... Just eating and drinking plenty of water and gatorade between now and then.
It's been a roller coaster week leading up to Saturday. I've been excited, nervous, and emotional, over and over again.
I want to share an e-mail with you all that one of my friends and running buddies sent me. She is amazing and inspirational. She's a great friend, great mother and grandmother. She has done like 6 marathons since November! This is what she had to share: (and yes, it made me cry :-) Thank you, Nechia! And good luck to you, too!

YOU ARE ABSOLUTLEY READY!!!!!!!

I know this is unsolicited advice--but I am truly fascinated with the marathon experience, and I keep coming back because I learn so much EVERY time I do one.

Only positive thoughts now.

You have done the hard work--THIS is the party!

1.  You will do better than you think.  You WILL.  And I'm not talking necessarily about finishing time, I'm talking about it being EASIER than you expected.

2.  18-20 miles training run is MUCH harder than running a full marathon.  It IS.

3.  An extra cup of water the rest of the week. 

4.  If it seems tough about mile 22, remind yourself it IS a marathon, and it's OK that it is a challenge.

5.  It TRULY TRULY TRULY is 20 % physical and 80 % mental.  Go ahead and practice what you are gonna tell yourself if it gets hard--I always tell myself--when it gets tough--THIS IS EASIER than I thought--I'm doing GREAT--I'm feeling STRONG.  Your self-talk gets you through it.

6. Things CHANGE during a marathon.  I've felt not so good, and a half mile later felt REALLY good.  If you are tired at mile 8, it's your mind playing tricks with you--you can still feel GREAT at mile 24.

7.  Relax and ENJOY this.  You are a strong woman or you wouldn't have the courage to sign up.

8.  DO NOT GO OUT TOO FAST.  HOLD BACK. 

9.  A secret ONLY for marathoners.  A training run of 16 miles is far enough--we just do the 18, 20, and 22 milers to PROVE it to ourselves. 

10.  A marathon changes you forever.  You never knew how tough you really are.

11.  Thank God you have such amazing health to line up at the start and HAVE FUN!!