Predict My Finish Time!

So. In case you weren’t aware, I am lacing up my running shoes this coming Sunday, May 13th for my 10th marathon! Whoop! I originally planned to do this race just for ‘fun’ and take a camera and snap photos and be real chill about it and soak up the atmosphere and just revel in the fact that I am running in a different country. To be honest during the winter when I was dealing with my pesky hamstring I wasn’t sure I would be ready to even finish a marathon, let alone race one this spring. With the help of my awesome physical therapist I was able to bounce back to my old self in no time and with the stellar spring I have already had out at the races I decided to actually see what I could pull off on race morning.

When I really think about it, racing is my definition of fun. Just jogging a marathon with a camera? That actually sounds pretty awful to me if I am to be completely honest with myself. SO. I have some goals in mind, some I will share, some are super top-secret. What I am willing to share is that I would love to PR but I won’t cry myself to sleep at night if I don’t, but a sub 3:24:55 would be pretty solid. Based on my current race times, using my recent half-marathon PR of 1:32:08, the all-wise McMillian thinks I can pull out a 3:14:19 on marathon Sunday. Now there will be a few variables that may end up stacking against me like the impact of travel, jet lag, not eating the foods I regularly eat and weather. I’m hoping the weather stays on my side, the current weather forecast is a low of 42 degrees, high of 51 degrees, cloudy and spotty showers for race day. Basically my perfect conditions!

But instead of obsessing about the things out of my control, I am just going to focus on the things I can control: solid sleep each night, packing my favorite kind of peanut butter for my pre-race breakfast, as I’m sure I won’t be able to locate any Dark Chocolate Dreams in England, and I will use my favorite GU and carry a handheld of nuun on the race course. Thank goodness these items are so easily packed and abide by the carry-on standards set by TSA. I plan on using my backpack full of all my race day essentials as my carry-on item for the flights. If my suitcase gets lost in transit, at least I will have my running shoes, orthotics, race day outfit and fuel. Priorities.

If TSA confiscates this I’ll be mega pissed.

To celebrate my 10th marathon, I thought I’d make it a little fun and see what you think my race time will be! The person who predicts a finish time closest to the actual amount of time it takes for me to cross the finish line will receive a prize!  To enter the contest leave a comment with your finish time prediction.

What is the prize? Well one lucky winner will receive a prize pack including a few of my favorite things that have fueled me during this round of marathon training:

• 21 oz. nuun water bottle
• Tubes of nuun in various flavors
• 1 lb of Biker Blend coffee from my favorite local roaster
• 1 jar of Peanut Butter from Peanut Butter & Co.

*Flavors of nuun and peanut butter will be winner’s choice.

*Predictions must be submitted no later than Saturday May 12, 2012.

The winner will be announced upon my return to American soil by May 17, 2012.

Good luck!

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