Well, I just got back from picking up my race packet at the expo. Now I have all sorts of goodies, some of which I may even use. And for some reason Orowheat was giving away bags of muffins. I mean, that’s cool and all, but a little unexpected.

We’re getting down to the wire now. Just a touch over 36 hours before the start. Its weird - I’m excited, but nowhere near as keyed up as I was last year. I guess that makes sense. I’m experiencing all the typical taper issues like being paranoid about being in a car accident and feeling all sorts of phantom aches and pains. Perfectly normal, but annoying nonetheless.

I still need to figure out my mid-race refueling stop. Everyone I know who runs is either out of town or in the marathon. I think I’m going to have to put a 3-gu bag together and pick it up from my lovely wife at the 14 mile point.

I feel a little bad from a service-to-spectator standpoint. Last year I was so slow that taking a few minutes out along the way to visit with friends was fine - in fact I needed the stretching time. This year I’m going to try to run straight through, just walking a few steps at each water stop, so I wouldn’t be able to repay them for coming down to see me. Luckily, you don’t get nearly the family support for a 2nd marathon!

From feet to head, I’m going to be wearing my new Saucony’s. I think they just needed more breaking in than my ultra-soft Landreths and, after running 3M in them, I’m pretty confident. My socks will be the ones I got at Motive. My shorts will be the red ones that I got for Christmas, and my shirt will be my Gazelle singlet, last seen at Motive (the one in the picture on the main page). Its a little big for me now, which is a good thing from a trend standpoint, but I don’t want to buy a new shirt just before the big race. I’ve got more comfortable short-sleeve shirts but if its really going to be over 60 degrees at the start (a very real possibility) I want as much cooling as I can get!

Other than that I just have to stay healthy, stay sane, and try to hydrate, sleep, and relax. Tonight I’m going to meet up with Alex, VJ, and hopefully a couple of other out of towners for an early RBF get-together, which I’m looking forward to. Tomorrow morning will be (a little) running and (a lot of) stretching with Gilbert, then brunch, another visit to the Expo to meet my pace group leaders, a mid-afternoon Italian carbo feast, and hopefully another good night’s sleep. Then I’ll be up brightdark and early Sunday morning in order to pick up Ted (my race buddy from Buda) and get all the way through town to the start line before 6:00 in the morning, giving us time to warm up sensibly.

Then all I have to do is take somewhat over 50,000 steps in a row, averaging an 8:36 pace (that’s 7mph). Simple. Of course, simple doesn’t mean easy - but I’m ready for the challenge.

Wish me luck. And best wishes to you all whether you’re racing or not in this or any other event. Have fun, and enjoy your fitness!

Popularity: 3%