quietly getting ready

My first race of the 13.1 mile distance is coming at me this Saturday. It's something I've been getting ready for most of the summer. Basically my effort has been to get in several long runs of 10 to 16 miles and try to log 20 to 40 miles depending on other demands on my time. I don't have a training plan. I barely have a log book. But I feel pretty good that I've expanded my capability for the long run and can maintain a decent pace for the event. I wrapped up this past week with several five and six mile days and then a very easy eight miles on Sunday. What I'll do throughout the week now is a lot of walking and short runs and stretching and eating healthy and sleeping and getting my work done so I'm not stressed.

Thoughts and final preparations:

I'm actually taking this serously all of a sudden. I really want to run well and put in a good time. Who'd have thunk it. I've got a little spreadsheet worked up where I keep playing with my pace and time. On race day though, I'm leaving the Garmin at home and running by feel. I've always had a knack for knowing how fast I'm running and I think I will be taking what my legs and the road will give me and taking it from there. Shooting for 1:41:30 or a 10 to 12 minute improvement over my best training runs. 7:45 miles should be achievable.

I've been back and forth on the shoes. It will either be the MT100s or the Piranhas. I like the Piranhas when the road is flat; I really feel like I have a stronger more efficient stride. The 100's are great for down hill; I really feel like I can run down the hills with confidence. Not sure yet. I'm going to wear both this week as a do this and that and for my walks and short runs. Might be a game time decision.

Eat right. Sleep well. My legs are tired and sore right now. Need to make sure I'm eating well and getting sleep. Lean protein. Fruits and vegetables. Just flipped the matress to move the lumps around.

Stretching and moving. Haven't been stretching enough. No time. I'll do more this week. Just enough running miles to maintain fitness.

Race day nutrition. I'm not into drinking and eating on the run. Have no experience with popping gels or whatever. Carbo loading the day before. My normal oatmeal for breakfast and some peanut butter and bread and some water with Accelerade. Some coffee. Maybe a couple bites of Cliff bar a half hour before the race.

I have no idea what I'm doing. But I'm sure I'll do fine. Come Saturday morning, I'll be a happy idiot with butterflies in his stomach. Should be fun.