Bella, it sounds like you are really ready. I love the marathon analogy. (It's just that no one tells you the distance when you set out - so no way did I want to know how long I'd been "running" for!) I told myself with each contraction that it was one closer to meeting my baby. I also talked to the baby during some contractions, telling her that we could do this together, that kind of thing.

I felt like my doula, m/w and family were cheering me on too. They would occasionally come over and tell me what a great job I was doing (I found out later they tended to do it when it was obvious things had ramped up). My doula provided some physical support and a drink of water when I asked, but it really was like I was doing the work myself.