ReggaeMarathon Blog

11 days to go!

Only 11 days to go to Reggae Marathon!

Now, the training is almost over.  You have run your final long run and are in tapering mode.  You are looking forward to the big day!  Now is a good time to:

Remember why you are running – is it for a charity?  In memory or honor of someone?  To celebrate a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary?  To meet a PR (Personal Record) goal?  Whatever it is, now is the time to recommit to your goal

Visualize your race – visualization is a powerful way of creating an experience before it happens.  This sets the stage for the event to unfold just as you wish it to.  Sit quietly and imagine your race from the start to the finish.  See yourself triumphant at the finish line!  Feel and savor the emotion!  Enjoy the celebration!

Prepare your packing checklist – with one weekend to go for last minute shopping, now is a good time to make sure that you have all the marathon essentials – check this website for a great packing list:

http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_plist.html

Two months before my first marathon, the 3 year old daughter of a childhood friend was diagnosed with leukemia.  This was every parent’s worst nightmare, for which one is never prepared mentally, emotionally, physically or financially.  As a mother and a friend, I felt that I had to do something, no matter how small, to give this little girl and her family a fighting chance.  I decided to dedicate my marathon to her, and to use it to raise funds for her medical treatment.

I raised over US$2,500.00 for little Leah’s treatment.  Today, she is cancer-free.  And the joy of helping, while achieving my long-held goal, lives bright within me.  I remember that somewhere between miles 21 and 23, I was having a conversation with myself about stopping – “Why am I doing this”?  I asked myself.  The answer was simple:  “For Leah”.  And so I finished the marathon, collected my medal, the money for Leah’s treatment, but most importantly, the joy of giving to someone in need.

As you enter the final month of your preparation for the marathon, half-marathon or 10k, are you clear on WHY you are doing this?  Even now, it is not too late to dedicate your race to someone in need, be it a personal friend, your favourite charity, or the three Reggae Marathon charity partners – the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, Joints in Motion or the  African Caribbean Leukemia Trust.  Read more about them at www.reggaemarathon.com .  More importantly, make the decision to make your race the race that keeps on giving!