Periodization

So, I first heard of this concept last Tuesday night at the running clinic we had about being mentally prepared for the race. Basically, it is the concept of breaking down the race in your mind into attainable pieces. I think it makes sense to do this and I have been doing this subconsciously since I have started running (even in high school cross country to some degree). I have no idea how you would get through a race otherwise. It is a little motivational thing for me ("if I can get past this hill...").
This REALLY helped me out when we did the 20. I broke it into
1. the part around downtown
2. the part in Newport (which I felt was already ingrained in me from the Thanksgiving Day Run...which always helps).
3. Downtown to Sawyer Point
4. Sawyer Point to the overlook at Eden Park
5. Eden Park to the Running Spot
6. The Running Spot to Delta UDF
7. Delta UDF to the purple people bridge
8. Done!

So, as I said before...Eastern was LOOOOOOOONG. I am familiar with it from driving to work sometimes, but not in a running way. So mentally, to get through it, I also had to break up Eastern, once I got there and my legs were screaming at me. So I did Delta to Schmidt Fields, Schmidt Fields to the overpass, the overpass to Montgomery Inn, and Montgomery Inn to the Bridge. I don't know why this is such a huge mental block for me. As I understand it is at the end of the race too, so I will really have to get over that.

Also I have been getting those day-by-day emails from the marathon.Every day breaks down one of the miles. I can't handle that. If I broke it down that much I would never finish the race! Nice idea though.