Cowboy Hazel

I'm in the airport now and feeling a strange combination of feelings. I'm nervous about the marathon, but nothing like it's been before my "real" marathons. I feel a little jealous of everyone around that's actually racing tomorrow and going for a PR. I wish that was me. Just read over the confirmation packet and found I'm bib 755. I know people will see that tomorrow when I'm running slow and think What happened to him? He must be struggling. That shouldn't bother me, but it does. I also feel strange leaving the city. I get this way whenever I fly out - a weird homesick (for NYC) feeling before I even leave. I was listening to Jay-Z's new song Empire State of Mind as my bus drove over the Triboro Bridge this morning and all of the sudden I didn't want to leave at all, not even for the weekend. Damn my knee... I really wish that this was it, the main event. The weather's supposed to be in the forties (perfect) and the course is flat and fast. It would have been a perfect combo. But don't dwell on that. Stick to the plan, work on the pacing, clear 70 miles for the week. Am I really going to be able to hold myself to 8 minute miles this whole thing? I'm going to be chomping at the bit. Enough typing. The plane is boarding, I should go. To Chicago.