I hate to sound like John Kerry but I am thinking about cutting and (not) running the marathon.
Maybe it is because I lack the will to carry on through the long run. Also, I am afraid to run the marathon for some reason. I am not sure why.
So far I have done all of the running, including long ones. Something is causing a mental block.
Perhaps it is fear of something.
Does anyone else feel like this or am I some odd ball?

You are not alone. I almost bagged out too (especially after going on vacation and having less than stellar training while I was gone). I finally decided (my friend Katie -plushpup-helped too) to go for it. Everyone knows I have been training for this marathon thing and I didn't have a good enough reason to drop out. So, I just registered last week ($85 non-refundable deposit is pretty good motivation).

I am sure that you will get lots of encouragement from your post. This portland fit group is supportive and fabulous. i wouldn't be this far without them.

melissa

Actually, I did take a vacation. But I did all of my running whilst relaxing in the sun.
Maybe I have a case of vacationitius. Ho HOoHO

If you've done the long training runs then absent any injury issues you should be very capable of completing a marathon. The issue will be your pace. If you've been at the finish line of a marathon you will see that all sorts of folks who you'd never think could complete a marathond do it. So get it out of your head that it's in doubt: you can do it, it's just a matter of how much time it will take you.

I was there during my whole training for my first marathon. Every long run was hard, and even the short runs. I thought how could I run 26 miles, if I can barely make it through15, then 18, then 21. but I did it. I just kept going, and I showed up at the start, and before I knew it, I was crossing the finish line. I had tears welling up in my eyes as I rounded the final corner. I could see the balloons, I could hear the announcer, I was almost done running a 26 mile marathon. I couldn't believe.
This year as I train, I find myself feeling the same way. At every run, I think how could I go 26 miles. But I keep going, and I keep doing the runs. I will be there at that start on Sun Oct 1, and I will be there at that finish about 6 hours later!
One big milestone for me was the 15 miler. In the past, I have trained alone, and the 15 miler was where I always stopped, could never get passed. This year, I knew if I ran that 15 miler, I would make it to the marathon. And I ran it, so I know I can run the marathon. I just know. And so should you. If you have kept up with the training thus far, and finish each run (whether it was a good run or not) you too will make it to the finish.
Crossing that finish line is the most amazing feeling in the entire world. I cannot explain how cool it is. You just have to experience it!
Good luck! I WILL see you there!!

OK>
but you may come in ahead of me!

You will have plenty of company in the doubtful camp. I have signed up. I know I will have to walk parts of the marathon, I know it will be hard, but I also know that I can do it one way or the other.

Honestly, the biggest motivator for me is projecting forward to October 1 and imagining NOT running it. Seriously, I think the self-hatred I'd feel for NOT running would be way, way, WAY worse than any pain that I will feel running it. That's what made me sign up and fork over my $85. Because I can assure you, that some of the longer long runs have been REALLy hard for me. And yet, I have completed them all.

So whatever motivates you, just do it. You can do it, and you'll feel so good. Plus (and I can't wait for this:) you can drift around casually commenting to people, "Oh, yeah, I ran a marathon." And if you can't remember how amazing it once seemed to you to run a marathon, just flash back to how amazed you must have once been by people who run marathons. YOU WILL BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!

See you on October 1st!

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway - That's the name of a book that you might want to read. If you are feeling fear that you can't finish, that is not real fear because you can do a slower pace (walk) and finish. If you are feeling fear that you won't finish in a certain time, reexamine your expectation and decide that it is OK to have a different expectation. Once you complete a marathon, no one can take that experience away. Your time is no one's business. Just say it was your personal best - and it was on that day. You can do another one to "improve" your time.

My experience is that people are super impressed when they hear that you completed a marathon. And, then they ask how far did you go. Since they don't even know the distance a marathon covers, they will be really unfamiliar with how much time it is "supposed" to take.

So, do it for yourself and take pride in how far you cover. As the other posters have said, it is an amazing thing to complete your first marathon. In fact, if you can do that, you can probably conquer any other fears that face you in your life. In reality, the marathon is not as hard as completing 26 weeks of training, sticking to a running schedule, getting up early on the weekend, saying "no" to that beer because you have to run in the morning, etc.

Good luck. I hope you stay with the program.
ACPam

I'm worried also and put off registering until last week. I figured the money would motivate me but I realized that was the least of my motivators. Instead I realized that:

1. I've worked to hard to back now. I would honestly hate myself if I don't do it. It doesn't matter how long it takes me, it just matters that I can say "I completed the Portland Marathon".

2. I've told everyone I know and complete strangers that I'm training for the Portland Marathon. I don't want to have to tell everyone that I didn't even try.


I know it's going to be hard, but if it wasn't hard then it wouldn't be much of an accomplishment. I'm dreading the day but I also can't wait to step across the finish line. It will be one of the proudest moments of my life.

So hang in there. You can do it.

You have all motivated more than imaginable. I too signed up last week and am nervous for my 1st. But I also know the fun the day will be with the music, the croud, the medal, the accomplishment, and knowing I did this and no one can take that away. Most people I have talked to say that on their "Life list of things to do", a marathon is always one of those goals. Many that actually attempt to train dont even make it as far as we have come. I am so looking forward to that day to see my wife and family at the finish line and knowing I can cross another "To Do" off my list. And I will pray for the freinds I have lost in Iraq (the reason I began training in the first place) when I cross the finish line. This one will be for them as we joked about doing a marathon while sitting in 130 degree heat in 2003. The next one I'll claim for myself. Thank you all for the motivation this year when you passed and when I passed those few. I appreciate you all and wish you all the best day ever on the 1st of Oct.

Well, I have gotten the energy to do it.
From all of your comments.
A great inspiration for me.
Thank you all.
From,
Slow slobster

One quote that has stuck with me since my first marathon, which was Portland in 2002.
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." by John "The Penguin" Bingham. This is so true.
Since, I have completed 10 marathons, 30 half marathons and 1 ultra.
I will be waiting at Mile 21 (PFit/VFit cheering area) to help support one of you to the finish line. I would be 'honored' to help you make it to the Finish.

See you at the Start!