I woke up Sunday morning feeling I had a job to do: I had to run the 2009 Napa Valley Marathon at my goal pace or better. My brain, on some level of consciousness, must have known it was better to go on autopilot than to approach the race with any depth of thought or feeling.

Complications had resolved, anxiety abated. I had trained and planned. I slept and ate. I pooped. I was ready to go. (more…)