The calm before the storm.....

Well, I'm here.  And as I basically expected I'm surprisingly getting calmer by the minute.  I credit my overall planning and training for this I guess.  I do as much as I can to leave tomorrow as risk-averse as possible. No last minute surprises.  I've even gone as far as to lay out all my clothes for tomorrow and pin on my bib.  My gels, and iPod are layed out. Watch is plugged in and charging and my breakfast is in a tupperware on the counter.  I'd actually go to bed right now if I thought I'd sleep past 3am. 

The past week was pretty easy I guess.  I ran one easy mile on Thursday, nothing on Friday, nothing today.  I was starting to worry I wouldn't be fully recovered by race day, but the last two days I've finally started to feel rested.  So......with nothing else really to talk about......no more motivational You Tube videos and quotes to post....I'll discuss "The Plan" for tomorrow......

I like having a detailed plan for my race.  It's not that I'm so anal that I can't run without one, but for me having a well thought out plan means I am prepared. If I'm prepared, and I need to call an audible mid race, I know what my overall strategy is and I dont risk too much.  Ideally the plan is there as a safety net.  Use it as needed. 

Pre-Race:

Race starts at 8:30am, I'm gonna get up at 6, make a super stiff cup of french pressed coffee and have one of my two, 600 calorie chocolate chip muffins and probably watch some Prefontaine clips or some You Tube montages to get my mind straight.  Maura is dropping me off around 7:30 so I can have LOTS of time to walk around, stretch out, and make my way to the front of my corral.

Pacing: 
First 5 miles I'm going to stick to a pace around 7min.  This should allow my legs ample time to warm up and shouldn't be too slow to make up later on.  I am a little concerned that this will still be a bit too fast and my legs will cramp up, but I think I'll be stretched out enough for it not to matter.  From mile 5 on it will be a 6:40 pace, and at mile 20-22 I'm gonna hit my "B-Button" and start burning up whatever I have left. 

Fuel:
I'm hopefull that the enormous steak and potatoe I had for dinner, coupled with the pizza for lunch, and muffin in the morning should be a good start.  Probably a glass of water, and two gatorade Primes.  During the race it's CRUCIAL that I maintain a proper fuel level or I risk blowing up.  I'm going to burn more than I can consume so I need to start full and put just enough fuel in along the way to keep me from hitting empty before the finish.  Based on some reecent reading, my plan is this:  Hit the water station at miles 4, 8, and then they are spaced about every 1.5 miles, so I'll hit up every other one.  Just a quick gulp, probably alternating between water and gatorade.  I will carry 3 GU's on me, and grab two along the way, I'll eat one about every 30-45 minutes, probably consume 5 along the way. 

The Course:

I start out heading South, hitting a small bridge with a 40ft elevation climb around 2, and then as we come back, I hit it again around mile 9.5.  I'm ok with this climb as it's pretty early in the race. 

As I double back and head north past where we started, the course is a SMALL incline for the next 8 miles or so.  When I say small, I mean about a 10-15 ft climb over 8 miles...not sure I'll even notice that.  There is a stretch as we make a left onto shore drive that I looked at on google earth that will be interesting.  It's a two lane road, tall trees on both sides and you can see for almost 1.5 miles straight, make a small bend, then another 1.5 miles straight. Anytime you can see this far into the distance, it's weird, and can be mentally challenging.  This is where I anticipate my iPod coming in. 

From there it's back into civilization and along the beach towards the finish, and a SMALL downhill.  There's a chance of a light wind tomorrow coming out of the NE ~10mph.  If it's gonna pick up, I want it at this point as that would be a nice tailwind.  No wind would be just fine too! 

So that's that.  Maura should be able to see me at the start, on my way back through and at the end.  I'm hoping it's another tearful celebration at the end like last year, and right now I'm feeling pretty good about it. 

TO BE CONTINUED...................