TheBanyanTree: it's just numbers

[Julie Anna Teague]

I haven't run a marathon or half marathon for 23 years.
I was 26 years old the last time I ran one.
My running was interrupted by 4 abdominal surgeries and 1 knee surgery.
And 2 kids, but they are 16 and 19 now and don't care if I'm gone running.
I've trained purposefully for 3 months.
I've run 233 miles since January 11th, anywhere from 3 to 12 miles at a time.
I've run in 16 degree weather.
I've run on 2 inches of ice and in 5 inches of snow.
I've run for 1.5 hours through a 45 degree downpour.
I've taken approximately 1/2 of a 60 count bottle of aspirin in that time.
I have 2 more training runs before the race.
The race is in 3 days.
It starts at 8 a.m., a time I'm always awake but never running.
I plan to have 2 cups of coffee that day, and a little food.
I will collect a number (unknown) and run 13.1 miles at an average of 
approximately 8.5 minutes per mile.

I plan to finish this 1 goal I have set for myself.
I plan to make 48 years old just a number, and not a limiting one.

Julie