I will see the Finish Line!

Coach Katie forwards her athletes the Runner's World Quotes of the Day... The good ones.

Today's came with the line:
"Very appropriate for those of you getting ready to tackle Mt. Michtell next Monday!"

This is very fitting to the mental warfare that is going on in my brain right now and reinforces once again the importance of preparing my head for this task. I know that my body is able to complete Mt Mitchell, but that is not going to do me any good, if my mindset isn't right.

And while I do have plenty of negative thoughts sneak into my brain these days, I (try to) blaze over them with positive reinforcement. It's all part of the preparation for the big day, because I know that there are going to be rough spots and bumps (and I am not talking about road conditions) somewhere between mile 75 and 102 and I'll better know how to manage them.

My current mantra?

"I will see the finish line!"

When I get overwhelmed with thoughts of:

• flat tires and mechanicals in general... I will see the finish line
• burning feet, exhaustion, pain.... I will see the finish line... 
• the mountain looking so high and so far away... I will see the finish line
• being good/ fast/ fit enough to do this... I will see the finish line
• miserable conditions (rain, cold, wind, snow, heat???).... I will see the finish line
• riding alone a lot.... I will see the finish line

And not only will I see the finish line... I will cross that finish line and I will have a (maybe forced) smile on my face... And I will hug every person I know that is up there... The ladies that I did a lot of my training with... My awesome husband that didn't only support my training, but also is going to be there to pick me up.

There will probably be some tears involved. There will be tons of stories, stuffing my face with food and maybe a nap in the car on my way back home.