In my dreams

That is where I am currently running marathons!

I keep having dreams about running, and not always good ones!

The latest involved running the marathon and feeling good, but then I kept getting lost.  I would be running and someone would stop me and tell me I'd taken a wrong turn.  So I'd turn around, but then not remember where I had came from and not be able to find my way back.  Then I would see people running so I'd go and join them, but somehow end up doing the same thing again.  At one point in my dream I was so lost I had several people all trying to help me find my way back to the race!  And all I was thinking was how I had trained to run a marathon and all of this extra running might mean I wouldn't be able to finish!
Needless to say I woke up in a bit of a panic.

Is this sort of paranoia normal for a first time marathon runner, or am I just stressing a bit too much?!  I have 5 months and 28 days to go, and can currently run a third of the distance.  I'm on track with my training, with my last run being a few steps short of 8.5 miles and my aim to be at 10 miles by the end of the year.  So why the panicky dreams?!

I know the answer.  It's because it means so much to me.  And that has got to be a good thing really.

Nobody said achieving your dreams would be easy.  In fact my new mantra when I am finding a run tough going is to remind myself that if this really is my dream, I have to keep going even when it feels like I can't do it.  Because your dreams don't just fall into your lap, you have to work hard to achieve them.  And so far, it's working.  I always tell myself that it's ok if I need to walk up the hills, or take a rest every now and again, but thus far I haven't needed either, and for that I'm pretty proud!

I haven't yet had a dream in which I actually finish the marathon, but that's OK.  I'd rather live that then dream it!!