The Marathon (PFC)

The night before a marathon is rarely a restful one.  For a person trying to sleep at 8PM when she normally wakes at 3PM to start her day, sleep is an unweildy devil.  I had set my alarm for 4AM, but paranoia and troubling dreams lead me to hourly clock checks and no faith in the technology to wake me.   A nightmare of missing the race woke me at 1AM, and checking the clock (again), I reassured myself that I was not late for the marathon.  By 3AM, it was enough.  I got out of bed, and started getting myself ready.  My breakfast was already chosen for this morning when I signed up for the marathon in November.  It was just oatmeal with honey when I woke up, followed by 1/2 a peanutbutter sandwich and a banana a couple of hours before the race.  The morning ritual was comforting.  I felt like I knew my purpose for the day, and there were no decisions to make or a list of things I needed to get accomplished.  Just one thing to do.  Run.