In the zone for Miami

Part of me wished my camera had been tucked away in my pocket. The other part of me knew that even if I had it, there really was no stopping the morning run.

The pre-dawn sky was starting to lighten and the houses along the waterfront glowed as the streetlights reflected off the frozen water. It was such a pretty scene, I pointed it out to my running mate Sue. We rarely point out the pretty on our runs. We’re usually just on the lookout for bad drivers and lurkers in the shadows who could be cast in an episode of Law and Order.

But this morning, the scene was so beautiful, so apropos of the term “picturesque” that it needed to be singled out.

That’s how I have felt the last two days — picturesque.

The ING Miami Half Marathon is just nine days away and I am so ready that I am practically giddy. Yes. Giddy. I even watched a marathon of the show Burn Notice to enjoy the visuals of Miami I am so excited for this race.

Ever since the long treadmill run on Sunday I have felt amazing. All of my runs have been easy and strong. I feel like I am running effortlessly. I feel like I want to run that half marathon today, if that could at all be possible.

In a way, this feeling has me a bit scared. Why scared? Because it’s new. It’s different. While I have always been prepared for races over the last two years I have never felt this ready — on all levels. Everything is clicking — my physical preparation, my nutrition, my sleep, my mental and emotional well-being. It all is coming together.

The goal for the next days is to keep this feeling. I’m not quite sure how to do that. Then again, I’m not quite sure how I created this amazing field of energy for myself in the first place. The goal now is to not over think it. The goal is to ride the energy wave that has been presented to me.

I will not question why I feel so good that I want to belt out a chorus of “I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music. I’ll just sing and enjoy the endorphins that I’m getting from the smile that doesn’t want to leave my face.