Fast...depends on who you're comparing yourself with

Still on a runner's high from Saturday's race results, I had hoped to carry that euphoria with me into Sunday morning's run.  I had been asked to pick up two people from their hotel, take them for an hour "jog" at the ATT, and then take them back.  I willingly obliged.  Before I left my house, I googled a few race results to find out what type of runners I was about to "jog" with.  My heart dropped to my stomach when I read marathon times such as "3:25....3:18...3...3...3..."  With much intimidation now coursing through my veins (along with the Excedrine tablets I took), I headed to their hotel.  Sometimes you just need to get your butt kicked in order to see what you're capable of doing---that's exactly what happened.  Ran 8 miles at about a 7:30-7:40 pace....I honestly thought I was going to puke, die, or just pass out.  Really, Saturday's race was tough after coming off a 24 mile long run, then add this 8 mile sprint to the already fatigued legs and it was more than I had anticipated.  Utterly exhausted but totally satisfied.  The nicest, sweetest people that happened to both be fast runners--I'm hoping to run with them again!

Monday was a much needed OFF day!!  No running, upper body workout only.  Couldn't get into AE, so just did a workout in the basement.  Still felt like I weighed 400lbs, but it was good.

Today called for the last 10 x 800's before marathon day!  First 4 done at 3:22.  Next few at 3:27-3:29. LAST one done at 3:19!!!  Helped having friends at the track to help push me through these.

A runner friend/mentor told me today that I'm holding back.  What?  I'm pushing---hard!  Nope, holding back mentally.  My body is ready, conditioned for a 3:35-3:40 finish time, but my mind is telling me otherwise.  Seriously?  I want to believe he's right, that this is all true and possible, but yet I doubt.  Is that really my problem?  Perhaps it is.  How does one overcome it?  No idea.  His advice was, "push hard, just give it all you got, lay it all on the table."  What have I got to lose?  I done the "I'm gonna puke if I run harder" types of runs so I know that feeling, but this is a race!  I don't want to fail.  Lay it all on the line---okay.