How to Prepare for a Race. Not.

It’s hot.

It’s summer hot. It’s pre-thunderstorm hot.

And I have my first race of 2013 tomorrow. In 13 hours actually.

The race materials for me and my mother and sister are already sitting on my kitchen table.

And even though this is not my favourite race – it’s very crowded with over 12,000 participants, and the clock officially starts when the gun goes off at one o’clock for everybody no matter your position in the starting corridor or when you actually cross the start line – but it’s still important to me for two reasons.

It’s a family event and tradition for us.
It’s next door to my house and partially run its route almost every time I go out running.

Still.

It seems like I’ve been sabotaging myself all week.

Not on purpose, per say, but as part of my preparation for my half marathon and marathon which just are more important for me.

So they say you should taper, right?

Let’s have a look at my week.

On Tuesday, I ran my longest run of 2013.

On Thursday, I ran my fastest in several weeks.

Remember how I shouldn’t worry about speed? It’s definitely coming back. For an insanely hot day 5.34 is already a good pace for me. 🙂

So. Am I rested? No, I’m not.

Am I excited?

You betcha!

It helps that it’s not a race where it’s even possible (due to the starting time thing) to strive for a PB, so the pressure’s off.

Do I still hope for a better result than last year?

Absolutely.

🙂

Is it realistic?

Probably not.

And you know how you shouldn’t overeat or experiment with food the day before the race?

Um. It was homemade sushi night with friends. I might have eaten more salmon sushi by myself than any four normal people would eat for dinner.

But it was just so good.

This is why I’m still awake instead of resting for the race – too full to sleep. Classic carbo-loading do NOT do.

Well. At least I’ve drunk a lot water.

And came home at eleven instead of going bar hopping with the others. And I didn’t drink a drop of alcohol.

🙂

Don’t wish me luck, but do cross your fingers for the absence of tomorrow’s promised thunderstrom. 😮

K.