I'm at that rambling taper time, two weeks out from Vermont City Marathon. It's my second marathon, but first one with a time goal. I ran Chicago in 2009, but I was so injured if it had been a local race I would have skipped it. But my plane ticket was purchased, hotel room booked and bib ready for pick-up. I am happy I ran it, it was an amazing experience. But after the marathon I took over a year off from running. Actually I quit. But we all know how that ended.

all I can remember is how bad my hips hurt and drafting off that chick in purple

marathoning is beautiful. i should really find this outfit...

I'm 2 weeks away from my second marathon. If all goes to plan I'll PR by over 35 minutes. But Chicago showed me that the marathon is a race like no other. The day can bring anything. At Chicago I  ran within a comfortable aerobic zone but I remember feeling a very abrupt change after mile 21. That brush with the wall stayed with me. I know things can go from great to uh-oh, fast. Especially, I imagine, when your foot is firmly on the gas pedal.

I have set an A, B and C goal. The C goal is don't walk, quit, land in the med tent or poop my shorts. I think that's most people's C goal. There's a reason it's been 4 years since my 1st marathon, it's a big scary race. You can't fake a marathon. You dedicate months of training to this one window of time. And over the hours you race you get down to the bottom of your barrel. You empty the tank. There is nothing more raw than watching runners finish a marathon.

As I approach the taper phase of this ride, I have a mix of excitment, respect and sheer terror. The work is done. There is no sense in looking back and wondering if the training was perfect, if I should have done more core and lifting or strides or hills... it's done. Just like owning my first real goal in the half I know I did good work, that I could have done more, less, better or worse... but either way it's logged in my journal and after the race I can pour over it and find the solid work and the gaps. Now is the time to look ahead to the starting line, blinders on.

Most of what I feel is excitement. Because Chicago also showed me the magic of marathon. The sense of accomplishment when you cross that finish line. The way 26.2 miles levels the playing field and brings runners of every speed together as a tribe. That's what I can't wait to jump into again, whatever the day brings. Anything can happen.