Check out what Ryan Hall posted a week out from Boston. Pretty epic stuff.

Run Like You Can’t Fail

by ryanhall | Apr 13, 2010 | 234 views

With one week to go before Marathon Monday the challenging aspects of training shift from the physical to the mental. Anyone who has run a marathon knows how long (mentally) that last week can be. All the physical training is done. The only physical benefits to be gained come from resting and eating well over the next week. Crushing last minute workouts has no place in these final days. However, there is still time to prepare the heart.

As Sara and I were sitting and chatting before my last 90 minute run yesterday (Monday) morning we were talking about the heart that I want to have during my race. A heart that is free from all worries, completely trusting God’s goodness, connected to Him. Sara reminded me of another good word we received months earlier: “run the race like you can’t fail.” I knew as soon as the words trickled from her mouth they were exactly what I needed for this moment.

So often there is the temptation to over think race strategy. We want to have an exact race plan that will be carried out exactly how we have visualized it. It’s not that planning is bad, one should be prepared for whatever lies ahead, however there comes a point where we are over analysing and putting more confidence in having to execute the perfect race strategy then trusting in our ability to respond to whatever is thrown our way. Freedom, in terms of a free-flowing race strategy, can be scary. It’s scary because we have to let go of control. However, the benefits of freedom are great. It allows flexibility, an open mind, an open vision, an open heart to whatever the day may hold. It gives us the opportunity to receive the moment to the fullest whether or not it is the perfect race day or pouring rain. I encourage you to let go and run free and run like you can’t fail!