Marathon Goals, Tracking Info and Weather

Forty eight hours from now I'll be on highway 39 making my way from Crystal Lake Cafe to Azusa Pacific University.  Sixteen weeks of long runs, intervals, easy runs, foam rolling, and recovery all comes down to this.  Since this is my fourth marathon, I know it's going to hurt, it's not going to be over quickly, but I'm planning on a great day! Janae, at The Hungry Runner Girl had a great concept on her blog yesterday from the Hanson's Half Marathon Method book:

"Step back and spend a moment thinking about your training, reminding yourself that you are fit and ready to race.  Training doesn't lie.  Be realistic in pondering the difficulty of the race, but also remind yourself that all your training has prepared you to handle it."  I have put in the miles, but I still need to respect the distance so I can hit my goals! So about those goals...

A+ Goal (stretch goal): Sub 4:00, BQ
My training plan has been for a sub 4 hour race and I would love to see that happen.  A sub 4:00 would also qualify me for the Boston Marathon.  I'm going to be looking for the pace group at the expo tomorrow.  I'd really like to know their strategy.  Since it is downhill for the first half, with rollers from about mile 13 to 18, I'm curious what pace they plan.  I don't expect a negative split.  I ran 1:53:44 (8:41 pace) for the first half when I trained up there and I was not trying to run my fastest so I feel cautiously confident that I can run it faster!

A Goal:  Sub 4:20
This is about a 10 minute/mile pace and I would be thrilled to finish in that time.

B Goal:  PR, sub 4:53
My fastest marathon to date was my first!  I think my training this time around has been very similar but I also have experience on my side.  I also know I did not do speed work for my other 2 marathons.  Intervals have been tough this time around but I know they've helped me get faster.

C Goal:  Finish
I realize that anything can happen during a marathon, just like it can during training.  GI distress, tripping, the wheels just coming off, a freak snowstorm.  If that happens, it happens, but I still plan to finish!

I've been getting lots of emails from Revel about the race.  Bag drop, pictures (all professional photos are FREE at this race!), parking, etc.  There is also live tracking if you're interested in how I'm doing.  Click this link.  Or look up my name (Kathy McElhaney) or bib number 2776.

My biggest dilemma is what to wear.  Right now it's showing a low of 43 Saturday morning at the start, but it was 24 there this morning!   If it was going to stay cool I wouldn't worry, but it's suppose to be about 70 at the finish line.  Dropping 5,100' is going to make layers a must!