Training Days 42, 43, 44 & 45 of 71: Half Marathon Here I Come!

Tomorrow I am set to run in the Ojai Half Marathon around Lake Casitas (see photo). It is about an hour and a half drive from my apartment. I am very excited for the opportunity to run in a race with OTHER PEOPLE nearby. My runs up until now have been completely solitary and I think it will be nice to all be doing it together - just like practicing yoga in a class full of people provides a whole different experience than practicing alone. I wonder if I will be able to 'ride' the energy of those around me? If I will try to run faster than usual so I don't feel like a wuss? If 13 miles will feel easy after the 18 miles last week?

One other reason I'm looking forward to the half marathon is that it is in Ojai, which is where Indian sage/philosopher Krishnamurti lived for much of his life. I'll put a quote of his here, so you can get an idea of him (although I believe he's appeared in my blog already):

"Fear exists so long as there is accumulation of the known, which creates the fear of losing. Therefore fear of the unknown is really fear of losing the accumulated known. Accumulation invariably means fear, which in turn means pain; and the moment I say 'I must not lose' there is fear. Though my intention in accumulating is to ward off pain, pain is inherent in the process of accumulation. The very things which I have create fear, which is pain." (The First and Last Freedom)

Krishnamurti's message revolved around dissolution of the separate sense of self that we are constantly trying to guard, protect, and enhance. He said that the main source of our suffering is identification with anything - country, race, gender, etc. He even went so far as to disband the religion that was forming after him because he said that identifying with him would also create further suffering for the followers. It represented the same human urge to separate into distinct identity groups - which is ultimately what perpetuates suffering.

Not sure how all this will effect the half marathon. Guess we'll see tomorrow.