"We're in the meat and potatoes!"

I'm actually not talking about food here.

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This is me, standing on the corner of 91st & Third in New York City, after running 20 miles for the second time ever. It was September 3, 2011 — my last long run before the Hamptons Marathon, my first marathon. I was so happy, and so proud, and so committed to a side-parted ponytail (still am). (And check out those vintage Sony headphones! They were my favorite, even though they never lasted more than two sweaty long runs.)

As I’m writing this, we are officially, exactly one month away from the Eugene Marathon.

My first attempt at a marathon in seven years.

In some ways, this race is just another day I’ll get to run.

In other ways, it’s 26.2 miles 11 years in the making. (You can read more about that here. Thanks to Becky Radliff — who is the best ever — for featuring me as this week’s Eugene Marathon “Start Line Story.”)

I have 10 more days of heavy training before my taper begins.

At this point in training, I’m feeling…good? Yeah. Good!

In this exact moment, I’m feeling stressed, tired, and a little sore after a hefty workout on Tuesday (10 miles, with 7 miles at tempo pace).

I had mentioned to Coach Kaitlin last week that I was feeling anxious heading into some of these big workouts, and her response gave me all of the confidence I needed.

“I also don't want you to feel so anxious about these,” she wrote. “I of course understand why — I get nervous before workouts too! — but I promise you, promise you that I will never give you anything I don't think you can do. I will always give you paces and volume that I truly believe you have within you. So I hope that faith helps boost your confidence a little. At any rate, you can always curse me — but know that I believe in you and am cheering you on, even as I'm challenging you. You totally nailed this and should be so stoked. I am!”

So, a couple things here.

First, isn’t Kaitlin the best coach? This is exactly why I hired a coach for this race. I’m all for paying someone to believe in me! No shame in that game. Yes, she gives me a schedule and a training plan and is responsible for helping me get to the start line healthy and prepared. She’s also the best cheerleader, and says the right things at the right times.

In this instance, it was the reassurance that she’s giving me workouts she knows are challenging, but doable. She has the data, she has my training history, and she has the expertise. Hearing that, though, flipped a switch for me. She’s giving me workouts I am fully capable of executing. Confidence: boosted.

Today, Kaitlin and I had a routine check-in call. We recapped how that tempo workout went earlier in the week, and she was thrilled that it had gone even better than prescribed. (As in, I ran faster than the suggested paces, but not too much faster.)

“We’re in the meat and potatoes now,” she said, as we looked at the next few weeks leading up to Eugene.

That’s me after finishing my first marathon, holding the “Feller is Stellar” sign that my friends made, and that I still have, 12 years later. Side part: still fully in tact.

I have 20 miles today (Friday), 22 miles next week, and then the taper begins. I am so, so excited for that. Historically, I’ve not loved the taper period. This time around, I have a countdown for it. I am ready. I can’t wait to do less.

At this point in training, Kaitlin explained, “We don’t need a home run. We just need a base hit.”

And then she quickly added: “I know you don’t do ball sports references. What I mean is, we need a bunch of singles. We just need to get on base. No missed days, it’s not about proving anything. It’s about the total body of work, not any single long run or workout.” The biggest thing in the next 10 days, she continued, is don’t get greedy.

(My hope in sharing all of this today is that if you, too, are working toward a spring race or goal of some kind, that these nuggets are as helpful or confidence-boosting for you as they’ve been for me.)

She wants me hitting the paces and the mileage, and not exceeding them. Now is the time to make sure I stay healthy, don’t get injured, and don’t cross that line between quality training and over-training (which I’ve done in the past).

We are focused on consistency, and when it comes to the training, I feel good about that.

In my trip down memory lane (via iCloud), I found this card that everyone at work signed for me and surprised me with before I left the office to head to the Hamptons Marathon. Working with an incredibly supportive, women-dominated office in 2011, during the prime “pencil skirt from J.Crew + colored tights + statement necklace + SATC-movie-inspired gladiator heel” era = the best.

How about that nutrition component, though?

Well, not to brag (she types, as she inhales her third brownie of the afternoon), but Meghann sent me an email on Monday.

Subject line: a big, all-caps “I’M SO PROUD!!!”

You know that words of affirmation is my primary love language (see also: physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and a willingness to snuggle up for a Top Gun: Maverick and The Greatest Showman double-header), so this made me downright blush!

Last Friday, I ran 17 miles. No workout, nothing fancy. Just 17 “time on feet” miles through Concord, NH. Meghann asked me to take gels every 30 minutes, and that’s exactly what I did, down to the minute. I refueled with a protein-packed lunch as soon as I finished, and continued to eat and hydrate well all day.

By Friday night, I was happily eating nachos and having a dance party with the whole Feller family — GeeBee, Pop Pop, Uncle (my brother), Kiki (his wife, Michaela), Tyler, Abby, Annie, Ellie, and Brian. I have never felt so good and so human after a long run.

“As training goes on, we often dig ourselves into a hole,” Meghann wrote. “But LOOK AT YOU — feeling better than ever. Fueling before, every 30 during <whaaat?!> and solid recovery meal x 2. You are legit the PICTURE of supportive marathon nutrition. YOU DID IT. I've never been more excited!! I am legit bouncing outta my chair over here!!!”

So, yes, these are two solid testimonials for the work that both Kaitlin and Meghann do with their clients, and I am loving working with both of them and highly, highly recommend them both.

Also: A reminder that the work works.

I’ve never fueled well or properly, or, at times, at all.

I’ve never backed off training as needed. I’ve never committed to rest days, to lower-mileage days, to not over-doing it.

This time around, I’m really feeling like I’m doing it “right,” and…it’s working, one run, one gel, one graham cracker at a time.

Whether or not race day is that perfect end-of-training day that adequately showcases the work I’ve done, I am so proud of the work I’ve done here.

It hasn’t always been perfect, and it hasn’t always been easy, that’s for sure. I’ve snoozed runs (for the past week straight) and had to find time to get them in later. My nutrition isn’t perfect, or even all that good most days, honestly (what’s a vegetable?), but I’m focusing on my performance-related nutrition, and it’s the best I’ve ever felt during these long runs. My stomach is even feeling better than it ever has during marathon training. I’ve slacked on strength training, but I’m doing what I can and what I have time for.

I didn’t know how marathon training would go. And I’d be lying if I said I was excited for the next 10 days. Truthfully, I’m ready to get to the taper, and then the race. Fourteen weeks is a long time to train for something, and these legs are feeling it. I’m tired!

I worried I would regret committing to this, but so far, it couldn’t be further from the case.

Ten more days of big stuff. Ten more days of meat and potatoes.

I’ve got this.

(So do you.)

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This week on the Ali on the Run Show:

• Ask Ali! A return to voicemail-sourced questions. I think I actually prefer the non-voicemail questions! I’m torn. I don’t know. I never know. What do you think?

• Michele Blackburn, Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor: I mean, wow. This conversation has really stuck with me. Michele was standing at the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013, cheering for her best friend. Then the bombs went off. Michele nearly lost her legs and feet, and while her surgical team was able to keep her lower limbs in tact, she dealt with — and is still dealing with — severe injuries as a result of the bombings. Her outlook is incredible. I am so, so excited to cheer for Michele as she returns to the Boston Marathon finish line this year, 10 years after the bombings — and this time, as a runner herself. (Put her in your tracker and give her some love out on that course!)

What I’m watching: Obviously Love is Blind Season 4! Every season I think, wow, this crop of “I’m 26 years old and still haven’t met my soulmate” singles is the most unlikable one yet! And then another season rolls up, and I’ve forgotten about the Shakes, the Shaynes, and the Shainas, because I’m completely consumed by the Irina (25, “business owner”) of it all. Unsurprisingly, I have So Many Thoughts. (Must do a Patreon episode ASAP.)

What I’m reading: This New York Times piece (by Matthew Futterman) about Chelsea Sodaro, who was on the Ali on the Run Show after winning Kona last year. Chelsea is someone I so look up to, respect, and admire, and this piece simultaneously broke my heart and made me cheer even louder for her. While I don’t have an Ironman title or a hard-earned laurel wreath in my home, there was quite a bit I could relate to in Chelsea’s story. A powerful read.

On the run: 20 miles, round two, on tap for this morning. It’s likely that as you’re reading this, I’m eating my pre-run Nutella toast, double-checking my gels, and giving my workout prescription once last look (8 miles easy, then three rounds of 2 miles hard-ish with a 1-mile recovery between each set, and then the last 3 miles easy — challenging but, I think, doable). The only thing left to do is run. (And recover. And then work as best as I can all afternoon. I can do this!)

And so…

Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Hit me with your hottest Love is Blind Season 4 takes in the comments. Thank you so much for being here. And whatever you’re going through, keep going.

Love,

Ali