The Nike Women’s Marathon is on October 18th, and I’m expected to be at the starting line. Anxiety and nerves are starting to set in as I’m filled with self doubt. A constant stream of questions pour through my mind on a daily basis. Did I train hard enough? Why didn’t I pay attention to my nutrition plan? How many pain killers can you take without permanent kidney damage?



Truth is, this year’s training program has been battling many other priorities, unexpected and unplanned, for top ranking, and I’m nervous about it. Sure, I run Bernal three (plus) times a week, I’ve put in the long miles on the weekends, I’m pretty sure my feet can take it… I am missing several toe nails, so what am I really worried about? Everything!

That said, being nervous about running a marathon means the distance is truly being respected. The Marathon is difficult. It’s 26.2 miles, 42.16 kilometers, 46,112 yards, 138,336 feet, and 1,660,032 inches (that’s alotta inches!). So here I sit after my morning pilgrimage up Bernal Hill in San Francisco, drinking my coffee and letting my stomach fill with butterflies – each one essential to successfully crossing the finish line at Ocean Beach on October 18th.