Preparing

It could seem that running is simple: Put on shoes. Go.

Not so. In today’s world, there are a million ways to complicate this sport. As noted in previous entries, I’ve resisted peer pressure and am not a Garmin GPS slave. I also don’t have to have the latest iPod gadget, rain jacket, or other miscellaneous gear featured in Runners World magazine each month.

That said, I am pretty particular about a few things. I like my Brooks Adrenaline shoes and I know which technical clothing fabrics work for me, meaning they don’t chafe...running should not cause bleeding! I also have my favorite flavors of energy gel, and love my FuelBelt for hauling water all over town.

So last weekend I started to get a little nervous about the coming week, knowing it would be hectic at work and home, and decided to get my act together and gather all the stuff I’ll need for the race. A trip to the Easy Runner store had me remembering a clip from the Sesame Street shows I watched religiously in the 70s: A kid walked through his neighborhood toward the store, trying to remember everything his mom told him to buy. Over and over he said out loud (and why do I remember this?), "A loaf of bread...a carton of milk...and a stick of butter."

Into Easy Runner I walked telling myself, "A pair of insoles...a box of Gu...and a stick of BodyGlide."

I got out with all of the above plus a pair of shorts from the half-price rack. They didn't have the socks I wanted in stock, darn it. I figured I could run in older socks if I had to. New, fluffy socks would be awfully nice, but oh well. From there, a quick swing through Academy loaded me up on vanilla and lemon-lime Gu and strawberry-banana PowerGel.

There’s plenty of other prepwork to do. I made sure to eat three decent meals a day every day this week, including oatmeal and banana the past two days. Hydration is on track.

Today, I checked in at the Expo and picked up my race packet, meaning I can fasten my number and timing chip to my shirt and shoe. I also found the socks I was looking for, Thorlos, at one of the Expo vendor booths. Whew. It seems strange to fret about socks, but I was, just a little.

Tomorrow, I’ll print a pace band, like this one at left, to wear on my wrist or maybe tape on a water bottle. Anyone can customize a band at ClifBar.com. Enter your time and a pop-up window appears for you to print, cut out, laminate, etc, whatever. (For the record, the band says “Clif Shot” on it. I’m not a fan of their shots (gels)--see a previous story about a fast mile and a porta-potty at Two Rivers Park--but I do love Clif and Luna Bars and like what their company is about).

Tomorrow, I’ll wake up with more tingles in my hands and feet than I had today. I’m glad it’s excited nervousness more than nervous nervousness. I'm glad I have a lot of little projects to do around the house.

Tomorrow will be a long, long day of waiting. The race is Sunday, meaning there is just one long day to go.