Finally! Jet lag is subsiding, although still lingering in the shadows to captivate my afternoons.  Bedtimes have been very early, but I’m just listening to my body’s clock in order to keep things in check for race day.

Speaking of race day, oh man! It is under 30hrs away now and it hasn’t quite hit me yet. Taper Town crazies have been pretty absent this time around, which is a little different. I’m definitely much more relaxed going into this race. I’ve been working with sports psych to lessen the need for perfectionism and I think I finally cracked the secret code. Setting realistic goals with the “fun factor” present has helped. Yes, I had a few rough days this marathon build, but overall I just took it all in stride. I never got lost in the upcoming weeks but really just focused week-by-week on what I needed to execute. I juggled my ecosystem calendar like a rockstar and hit the snooze button when I needed to. I prioritized recovery + fuel in order to grind out those 567 miles of this build and to arrive at the starting line completely healthy – no body parts squawking and no illnesses. No matter what happens on race day, this has been my most successful marathon build.

As I wrapped up my final training run of this cycle, I couldn’t help but to just absorb the environment. My running shoes took myself and Raul to Yoyogi Park which was about 3km from our hotel. We strolled through some neighborhoods which were quaint and quiet. Some areas of the park had “No running” signs in order to respect the shrine nearby, so we started off down the street side and eventually meandered our way into the park area where activities were allowed. Raul went his way, but I knew he’d be lurching around if I needed something. I simply found other runners and just drifted behind them until I got the feel for the park. One thing about Japan is that we as “runners” stick out! We are dressed in our sporting gear and not dressed up! We wave to each other, even if we don’t know one another. It’s like a mutual sign of encouragement.

As I continued on my short shakeout run of 4 miles at easy pace, my heart rate popped up a bit so I knew that was the result of jet lag and also 50-55 F sunny hot weather! I just backed off a bit and let myself settle into my happy zones. That’s one thing that I’ve worked hard at over the last year – when to push it and when to chill out as well as what objective metrics correspond accordingly.

As I was wrapping up my run, I got lost in the moment.  Here I am, in Japan, running in a park, concluding my marathon build, amongst sunny skies, cherry blossom trees, and a wild dog park. What an incredible opportunity!  I thought about every single person who has helped me along this time… and wow, what an incredible team I have!  It sure takes a huge clan with individual talents, but when everything is just right, it’s like a symphony playing the most eloquent music.

After the run, we walked back to the shrine side of the park and explored for another 2+ miles.  The Meiji Jingu shrine was unlike anything I’ve seen before.  Multiple entrances had the iconic Japan pathway arches.  The shrine had an area to make a wish/prayer, so I scribbled down my wishes for a successful race day and placed it into the box.  No pictures of the actual shrine were allowed and it was guarded too.  Raul and I watched as locals paid their respects, bowing and praying.  It was a very quiet environment – much different from the activity side of the park where I had just run and was still feeling the caffeine effects of my run.

After the shrine, we indulged in some local foods at a quiet restaurant where we sat across from each other with plexiglass and our temp was recorded upon entry.  I opted for a pork and rice entree, keeping the curry separate.  Of course, I ordered dessert too which was so decadent and appetite pleasing!

After our adventure, we headed back to the hotel to kick up the feet… a 4 mile run turned into an 8 mile day with all the explorations and I knew that it was time to call it early. I wrapped up my next COVID antigen test, recorded my temp, and zonked out at 6:30pm local time (about 4:30am EST). The biggest challenge for this marathon will be the jet lag which I definitely underestimated in my planning, but I’m ready to step up to the challenge for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

My final thoughts today:

I’m a firm believer in making the most out of every opportunity in life.  Life is like a series of doors that we open and close, some teach us more than others and some leave a lasting impression for a lifetime.  Behind some doors are obstacles, but behind some doors are incredible opportunities.

When opportunity comes knocking on your door, how will you answer? Will you step through quietly and timidly, or will you pounce through with energy and excitement? Will you have the right preparation and the right confidence? The choice is always up to what lies within you and what your mindset believes.