I'm in a perfect storm of lack of confidence.

The depression and disorientation that always accompany moving for me, on top of taper jitters.

The physiological differences of adjusting to climate and latitude - and trying to get my taper runs done when there's no place I can go without minimum 15% grades, when I haven't run more than a couple of bridges all winter.

The usual taper aches and pains, on top of the residual neck and back trouble from my fall last month.

But I did 14.5 today at a quicker pace than my last long run in spite of the hills (including a couple of probably 20%ers). My new shoes were fine (same model as my old pair, but one of the metatarsal buttons gave me a blister the second time I ran in them, and I repositioned it not knowing either whether the adhesive would hold after having been unstuck once, or whether I'd keep getting blisters). I keep visualizing that finish line clock.

Next year in Boston.

(And sour grapes, with the weather forecast I didn't want to run it this year anyway. )