Showtime

Saturday, April 5, 7:30 a.m.
D-day. Ground Zero. Post time. Event day. Cloudy, wet, and a relatively warm 59 degrees. Great day for walking 6.2 miles. Even though it's a bit warm, the clouds and potential of rain will keep the temperatures from rising between now and 11:50, my anticipated finish time. I'm going for an ambitious 1 hour and 50 minute event time. 11 weeks ago I was figuring that it would take about 2:15-2:30 for me to complete the event distance. We will see...

Last night I set my alarm for 7:45 a.m., but my internal alarm woke me at 6:30. I managed to lay in bed for a few more minutes, but sleep was over, so I will be preping a little early. Channel 6 has live coverage of the Monument Avenue 10k from 8 to 10 this morning, and since I don't need to leave until around 8:45 for my wave start, and since I am up early I'll watch the coverage for an idea of what to expect when I get there.

I will pin my bib on my bright neon yellow shirt and figure out how to fasten my computerized timing chip onto my shoelace. I want to be official!

I really don't have the wild emotions that I thought I may have on race day. Maybe everthing hasn't sunk in yet. But then, emotions are crazy things. They can sneak up on you. Maybe they are sneaking up right now. One thing for sure, the little devil guy has been working overtime yesterday and today. Bad news--the devil guy doesn't quit. Good news--the devil guy no longer rules my life. While he may never go away, he is becoming far less influential.

The devil guy has been challenging me with negative thougths of freak injuries and a plethora of imaginary occurrences that I am sloughing off, thanks to the angel guy. In fact, yesterday and today the words of my Coaches Danny, "hog calling" John and their staffs of coaches are flooding my mind...Chuck Glover, you will finish, you have quit quitting, you are stronger than you've been in 30 years, you've made amazing gains...you are waaaay different now. Thanks coaches for the past 10 challenging weeks.

And thanks, God, for not giving up on me. It's You who sent to me my sons Jeremy and Stephen, who set the example of exercising and dedicated workouts, and Coaches Danny and "band camp" John. You will continue guiding me, encouraging me, compeling me...carrying me. You will neither leave me nor forsake me. You will deliver the greatest outcome, whatever that may be. Thanks, Father! Today is for you.

Time to prep. Uh, oh...I think those sneaky emotions may be about to pounce.

Saturday, April 5 at 5:32 p.m.
I made it.