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Dave Emilio is documenting his training for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Oct. 16.
Time flies. The minutes, hours and days just seem to melt away, and the pace is quickening as my deadline approaches. The marathon is creeping up fast.
There's only eight more weeks before I'm at the starting line. I wish there was more time to train. I always start a serious program about 18 weeks ahead of race day, yet somehow I always feel as though there's always 18 weeks to go.
At this point, past the halfway mark in the training schedule, I start realistically thinking about the mental and physical state I'm in. Am I healthy, uninjured, confident and better off than this time last year? Is there anything in particular I need to focus harder on, and have I lost sight of any of the smaller aspects of training?
Well, the answers are yes and no. I am running faster than ever during training runs and feeling better afterward, which is the ultimate goal. But I still occasionally let the ball drop in other parts of my training regime. I still give myself too much flexibility in what is supposed to be a strict diet. I'm staying up late too often, and I went almost two weeks without a strengthening workout.
This is the reason I like to chronicle my training and make my goals public. The accountability keeps me on my toes (sometimes) and my training log keeps me aware of what is lacking in my regime.
The remaining eight weeks will challenge me in both my time management and my resolve to sacrifice certain aspects of life in order to achieve better results. Here's to less playtime, fewer treats, fewer celebratory fermented beverages in return for the best possible me come race day.
Special to the Globe and Mail