I’m typing these thoughts as I sit on the plane. I’m flying across the country into the unknown. In less than 2 days, I’ll be toeing the line at my third 50K distance adventure. I’m taking on the same amout of vert that I had over 50 miles this summer at Mt. Hood and packing it into 50 kilometers. With ultras, everything is unknown. For some, 50K is just a warm up, but for me, the distance is still quite daunting. I just don’t know how my body will hold up. Will my stomach go south? Will I cramp? Will I take a spill and not be able to continue? Any number of things can go wrong over such a long distance. That said, I do think that I trained well during this training block. I had the base fitness off of the Mt. Hood 50M, I took a short recovery period and then jumped back into training. I was disciplined and consistent and added more hill-climbing than usual and also some speed work. I think it really helps that I started rock climbing regularly too and that I was able to consistently do strength and core work twice a week. I’m going into this race feeling more balanced with a stronger upper body. I’m hoping that’s the case, because I plan on using poles on Saturday and take some strain off of the legs while on those long 2 miles climbs. Mentally, I’m prepared. I’ve memorized the course so I know what to expect and it’s just really keeping on top of the hydration and fueling. I have my same tricks that I will use. I’ll visualize myself on a magic carpet if I’m running up shallow inclines and picture myself as a majestic unicorn as I power hike the steep hills. I like to think of myself as water flowing and letting gravity take me, as I run the down hills. I think that resorting to the playlist (in my head) in the later miles will also work well. When there are runnable sections, I will be focused on checking in with my form. Shoulders back, chest open, pumping the arms, landing underneath the body and kicking back my heels, engaging the glutes. Keeping my breath calm and rhythmic. It’ll definitely be new, keeping the poles in my hands the entire time. During training, I tried attaching them to my pack, but they bothered me, bouncing on my lower back.
Tonight, as soon as I land, I’ll be going out to a dinner with Chris and company he’s been working with. It’ll mean a late bedtime for me, but at least I don’t have to wake up early on Friday. My plan is to do an easy 3 miles somewhere in the Marin Headlands on Friday, have some lunch and then meet Chris to go pick up our bibs. Not sure where dinner will be yet, but my plan is to have something very close to all of my other pre-race meals. Or maybe we’ll hit the grocery store and cook something at the Airbnb. For me, it would likely be sweet potatoes, a big green salad and some baked chicken. Then get all of my race stuff together. Right now, the weather looks near perfect for race day. Low 50s to start, topping out in the low 60s.
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