I think I like taper/pre-race weekends.  So much going on the past week and weekend, but it was all fun.  Not that running isn’t fun, but you know what I mean.  I took my last three Orange Theory classes for two weeks and got in my final pre-race run last week.  I wish I could say it was all sunshine and rainbows, but in reality, it was tight calves and hips and an eight mile run that became a three mile hike.  Thankfully, several friends were there to talk me off the race ledge.

I spent yesterday at Grizzly Peak with Coastal Trails doing everything and anything: a little bit of unloading, a little bit of check-in, a little bit of aid stations…..some driving of a large van (and I didn’t get lost….well, not really ;)).  But it was a beautiful day and I had fun working at a race I had tried to run last year (nothing like registering for a 50k, changing to 30k, and then finishing with the half).  I also saw Marissa for the first time in forever (really since January).  Good news!  She’s still running Lake Sonoma next weekend, so I’ll have some company out there.

Last night, we had our second book club dinner at Garcon in the Mission.  It was delicious!  French food to go along with our French book, All the Light We Cannot See.  And, well, I tried to read this one.  I ordered what I thought was the book on Amazon.  Except it wasn’t….it was janky cliff notes….not even real cliff notes.  Haha…but, they did give me all the main points so I could understand the discussion.  And, like high school, I’m sure if I had to write a paper on it, I could have done reasonably well.  Unfortunately, not like high school, I actually wanted the details (it sounded like a really good book).  I ordered the next book today, so there’s plenty of time for it to get here, be wrong, be corrected, and for me to still read it over the next month and a half.

Today, I’ve done nothing at all….I mean, I guess I did dishes and will probably hang up some clothes, and ran to the store, but other than that – nothing.  Should probably stretch or foam roll or something.

Which brings us to race week.  Goals for this week: stay healthy, stay injury free (the elliptical seems like a safe bet, but I’m sure I could find a way…), and, try not to panic.  I seem to be reminding myself of the third one on a regular basis…I’m either nervously excited, cautiously optimistic, or completely terrified, depending on when you ask me.

Friday, I checked the race weather.  Rain.  Awesome…thankfully, it was a 40% percent chance and I was headed right into the gym so couldn’t stress too much about it (then).  Last night, I checked it again…up to a 70% chance.  Really?  But, as several friends pointed out, the rain seems to be my thing.  Way Too Cool went really well.  Maybe it’s my good luck charm and I’ll finally finish a 50.

This morning, I made my list of race stuff for the grocery store: eight small bottles of Gatorade, two large bottles of Gatorade, eight small cans of Sprite, Benadryl…..a list that would have made my hyper-active, ten year-old self very happy.  I swear, races are just really an excuse to eat and drink everything I never would/should at any other time.

I made lists for each drop bag, the bags I’ll give Brian, and everything else I need to bring.  I started thinking through what needs to be in my pack – benadryl will now be a necessity, thank you, North Face for that lesson.  Of course, that may just make me drowsy and instead of dizzy and hypothermic, I can be sleepy and hypothermic.  Though, the rain should keep the bees away, right?

I’ve also spent time this past week thinking about (read, stressing about) pace.  I should be fine with the cut-offs, but once you run into problems with cut-offs, it’s always in the back of your mind.  But, I have to have some sort of a plan….if anything to let Brian know approximately when to find me where….and so I know when and where the cut-offs are.     But, nothing too crazy, just food for thought for the back of my mind.  I’m pretty sure anything more than that will unnecessarily stress me out this week and missing a self-imposed time during a tough mile in the race will be the last thing I need.  I have ideas and goals, but really just want to finish.

And, I think that’s pretty much the prep for the things I can control.  There’s the weather and the wildlife and my previous injuries and other people, but none of those are things I can do much about.  Other than plan for the worst, hope for the best, and know that I’ve trained for this and am more ready than I’ve ever been.  I’ve trained in the rain, in the heat, through the sick, when I didn’t want to, when I did want to….all with this goal in mind.  T-minus one week and counting….