In a post last week, this Examiner introduced you to a trick she finds incredible helpful when mentally prepping for a race: Using every training run leading up to the marathon to visualize a chunk of miles of the actual marathon. It's a trick from an old edition of Runner’s World’s “Guide to Running,” and it really helps enforce positive imagery and ward off negative thoughts before the race.
Today’s exercise: Visualize yourself running miles five through 10 of the race. You're settled into your pace, and are running comfortably, taking in water and posting even splits. You feel strong and rested, and you know you're going to have a great race.
For Marine Corps Marathon runners, this means a somewhat steep uphill through Georgetown miles six and seven, but then a long, lovely downhill miles eight and nine. You don't mind the hills, because you've trained for them, and you know you'll enjoy a flat course the rest of the race.
Study the course map for more information.
Check out visualization techniques for other sections of the race here:
Marine Corps Marathon countdown: visualizing miles one through five
Marine Corps Marathon Countdown: visualizing miles 10 through 15
Marine Corps Marathon countdown: visualizing miles 15 through 20
Marine Corps Marathon countdown: visualizing miles 20 through the finish
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