Move It Old Man - Dialed In or Phoning It In - 1 Day To Go
Dialed In or Phoning It In
I find myself one day before a race I've been formally preparing for the past 26 weeks. Half a year to build a base, to practice eating while running, to learn performance degradation, to get things dialed in.
As far as gear goes, nothing is dialed in. We shifted from summer weather to winter weather in a week. It hasn't rained in a month, but it's raining now. I generally operate with a mind of uncertainty, but the weather change is a bit on the nose.
My last big long run was four weeks ago: 35 miles, which I had to take easy because my popcorn knee was asking me to slow down. It started popping five weeks ago. I've cut back training, done mobility, and gotten some fascial massage help for the knee. It is all fine. Sort of.
I have three sets of socks and shoes and so much foot and toe lube. (I've decided against toe socks.) The most undecided outfit. Not even sure about a hydration schedule. It's a fly-by-sight, use-the-force-Luke approach. I feel like I'm showing up with choices and no decisions.
All of this sounds like complaining. I'm not dying to be cold and wet, but it just kind of is. I'm hoping to finish this race. I knew in September, when I previewed the course, that if it rained it would be much harder and the DNF chances would go up.
In the meantime, I picked up speed and then backed off it to give the knee a chance to settle. I don't have to carry seven pounds of water and stuff in my pack; the aid stations can carry that load. I might only carry 500 ml at the start. I stopped worrying about fueling and chews and started eating potato chips and drinking Coke. Both at the aid station! Since I'm not trying to win this race, there's no reason to optimize. I can just go with what they've got.
As for the run/walk mix, I can only go with the body that arrives on race day and do what it allows me to do. I have to listen. I also have to get through the first 90 minutes to bed my legs in. I have no idea how I'll feel for the first 10–15% of the day.
I will show up to the starting line as a nobody, who knows nothing, who will finish right where he started.
