onepinkfuzzy

Four miles this morning in over 85 degrees F? No sweat, I've trained hard, I've ran long miles, I've run in the heat. I can do it.

Fast forward 26 minutes, when I've gone a whopping 2 miles at a 13-minute pace, and have to walk because of a wicked cramp.

Johnny and Ash came with me again. Ash fell asleep again (hm, maybe that's how we get him to take naps...). I walked again. A lot. I walked the entire 2 miles back to the car.

It was good, though. Johnny and I got to talk about everything bothering me. How scared I am of S&S. How I want Internet back so I can regularly talk to my running community. How I want to nurture myself while nurturing my familiy. How I don't know how to do that. How my body just wants almonds, sticky white rice and veggies. How I need more carbs. How I need to rest. How I'm feeling exhuasted every day, even without running. How stress builds up lactic acid. How I need to figure out strategy. How I need to relax and let go.

We ended on a sour note, though. We got into parenting, which is one of our hot spots. I'm glad we were able to disucss it, and I'm glad I voiced my opinions, thoughts and concerns. I'm glad Johnny listened, even though it was a frustrating and non-relaxing way to end the conversation.

On to the race day goals and strategy...
Race day = hot, humid, 32 miles on all single-track rooty trails, and either 4 climbs of 600 feet or 6 climbs of 400 feet (I can't remember which way), but total 2400 feet of vertical climb.

Goals:
A. Finish in 12 hours (cut-off time)
B. Finish in 10 hours (my desired time)
C. Finish in 8 hours (dream time)

Strategy:
- two water bottles; one handheld, one in the waist pack
- start with three gel flasks, which will get me to the turnaround and only crew spot, where I'll switch three empties for three full flasks; one inside the waist pack, one in the flask spot on the waist pack, one in the front in my clip-on flask holder
- race outfit: montrail hardrocks, belaga socks, bike shorts that stick to my legs, waist pack (with napkins, tiny first aid/blister kit, chapstick, eye drops for contacts), either my nice white comfy adidas shirt or my nice orange comfy shirt, favorite vassarrette sports bra, sunglasses, white fleet feet cap
- eat pretzels or boiled potatoes at the aid stations, or whatever else fat-free salty carbs are available
- drink 20 oz water per hour
- swig one serving of gel every thirty minutes
- have duffel bag for turnaround, with extra socks (belaga and wright coolmax), extra shoes (old adrenalines, in case the hardrocks blow out), extra shorts (note: purchase extra bike shorts), extra shirt, extra sports bra, three gel flasks, extra tylenol, etc. (to be added to I'm sure)
- end of the race bag: towel for after I dunk in the lake (my ice bath!), dry comfy clothes, sandals!, clif or Z bar

I've mapped out my splits, but need a topo map of the area so I can figure out where the RD is putting the aid stations and can more accurately reflect my times into and out of the AS. Once I get those figured out, I'll post them.

Just so y'all know that I'm not going AWOL, I'm hoping to catch up on all my bloglines today (Saturday the 3rd), and maybe will get a chance tomorrow, then I'm out of town on Monday for work (June 5). I'm hoping to check back in on Tuesday at lunch (June 6), and then early Wednesday morning (june 7), we're off for Kentucky. Race day is next Saturday, one week - June 10. I don't know if Johnny's dad has Internet, so Tuesday might be my last day until the following Wednesday (June 14)!!! I hope I don't have to wait that long after S&S to give my race report.

Good luck to Mike and RunnerSusan (and anyone else) doing the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon tomorrow!!!