For me big races begin at 10 miles and up. These are the races that I spend a lot of time planning. Everything from sleep to meals, hydration and rest. The feeling well...it's equivalent to the day before you leave on vacation. The flood of emotions is just amazing. You're excited, nervous, thrilled, energized. The anticipation is killer.
This race prep started on Friday. I took the day off of work so I could go down town pickup my race packet and experience the expo prior to Saturday when undoubtedly the other 29,000 participants were going to be there. I would have to say it paid off. There were probably no more than 400 people there while I was there. It wasn't over crowded nor were there long lines for anything. Lot's of free samples including MGD64; my father in law was thrilled. My only complaint with that whole experience was the location McCormick place. $19 just to park and that wasn't easy. My F250 pickup truck sits 6 feet 8" tall and the underground lot has a clearance of 6'4" and of course security nor the parking attendants were of any help. They suggested we take turns going in while the other drives the truck in a circle - for real?! I did manage to find parking off to the west of 31st street. Still cost $19 and a $8 cab ride and a 1/2 mile walk back, but whatever.
Went to bed at 11pm and got up at 7:30am. I would normally have slept in until at least 9am, but I wanted to make sure I could fall asleep around 8pm tonight so I can get up at 4am on race day. The start is 6:30am and with a 45 min drive downtown and parking (this time I'll take my wife's car) I'll need to get out the door by 4:30.
I got up this morning (Saturday) ate my cup of oatmeal and took dog to the groomer. Came back home and plopped in front of the computer. Ahhh I love rest days. Usually the groomer calls around noon to tell us we can come get the dog. Of course today had to be different and the call didn't come until 2pm when we had decided to go to lunch since we were both starving. Really monkeyed up my day. I wanted lunch, then shopping for racing singlet then home for more rest. Instead it was lunch go back get dog then go back out shopping. In the end it worked out.
Tonight I'm going to pasta up a little bit, keep the fluids up a little higher than usual and hopefully drift off to sleep by 8:30. It will most likely be 10 by the time I fall asleep, but I'll try. I've got my D-tag (electronic chip they use to time you in a race) on my shoes. My bib and pace number pinned to my shirt. My shorts shoes and socks laid out. I have my duffel bag with my bag drop tag attached and loaded with my towel, comfy shoes(crocs), dry shirt and some additional Gatorade for after the race.
I am feeling a little nervous about tomorrow. I really want to hit my stretch goal of 1:42 but really want to make sure I hit 1:45. I know my training was solid. The question will be whether or not the weather cooperates. Low of 67 tonight but foggy, which indicates to me, the untrained weatherman, that it's going to be humid. I fear that will add to the perceived effort making for a very tough PR attempt. Minus the rain today would have been a perfect race conditions. I guess we shall see tomorrow.
I'll leave you now with my new favorite slogan I picked up at the expo -
May you always have:
The courage to start
The strength to endure
The resolve to finish
-Bob
