Race week. It brings a tsunami of emotions. What am I thinking....I cannot run for 24 hours. True. There is quite a bit of walking involved WITH the running (if all goes well). Last year was not my year. There were horrible winds that blew (my friend) Dena and I all over the course and we decided to 'pack it in' 62 miles into the race. We left some unfinished business out there on the course. This year I am committed to seeking my second 100+mile completion within 24 hours. I am FULLY committed to 80 miles and I am MOSTLY committed to 100. I can do this. I've done this before.
The week of a race I let doubt and anxiety creep into my psyche but I am old and hopefully wise enough to continue to ignore the fear of the unknown. Any given day anyone can do anything they put their mind to. I continually tell myself, "What the mind will believe, the body can achieve".
I have started my packing for the weekend. I tend to over pack because I would rather have too much stuff than not enough. With the weather being iffy in the afternoon, you do not want to mess with mother nature and wearing dry clothes is a MUST. Each year is a different story of what I need and must have.
I have run in snow at Crooked Road, but never rain. There is a chance of rain this year and I am reminded of a Lululemon Product Photo Shoot where I was running in 40 degree rainy weather and laughing about it. It shouldn't be this cold but at least I have a frame of reference on laughing in the rain. Who knows, maybe I will start singing.
Whatever Saturday will bring, I will bring what I have and with the utmost energy and enthusiasm. Heck- if I can pull off a 3:34:17 at the NYC Marathon with a hurt toe (I kicked a subway grate by accident after sliding on a paper cup in the road) then I can run/walk a 100 miles. Right?!
This picture epitomizes that I will go from girly grace to grit in a nanosecond. Don't count this princess out. I have plenty left to prove in the running world.
When I finally get to the starting line of the Crooked Road 24 hour ultra I will find my calm rhythm and crank out the mileage; one mile at a time.
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