I downloaded a handful of new (to me) songs last night, to beef up my playlist for today’s solo 19-miler. This one ended up being my mantra for the run and I eventually lost track of how many times I hit replay.  Logging this many miles is very hard, going it alone proved to be an exercise in futility.  I had convinced myself that it was necessary for me to do it this way this week in order to ensure that I’m mentally prepared for the marathon.  But with no supportive friends to distract me from my demons of self-doubt, I was forced to rely on my new musical pal turned training muse, Steven Cooper.

While excruciatingly challenging, today’s journey was not all bad nor completely lonely.  At one point I found myself disoriented and lost, but CMB was just a phone call and map app away.  En route, I popped in to Urban Escape Fitness to use the facilities and fill up my water, and was greeted by  a sea of friendly and familiar faces.  Slogging along a particularly tedious stretch of road I was approached by a silver jeep (containing none other than CMB and our daughter) bearing ice water, blasting music and offering accolades.  No, I didn’t climb in with them although I really, really wanted to.  I finished the prescribed number of miles (at a decent training pace) exhausted and rank but definitely better for the wear.