Peace, Love & Western

June 4th, 2010 Posted in Training

22 days to go…….

The difference on how I feel this year verses last at this point is palpable.

Last year I was had a broken wheel (Achilles), had peaked too soon, no nutrition plan, hadn’t logged the long hard miles in the canyons and had forgotten most of the tricks I’d learned about preparing for a 100 miler (larger size shoes, no heel cup, balancing sodium and calorie intake, heart zones, etc).

This year I deliberately pushed out my peak training 45 days, avoided injury, got a complete handle on my nutrition plan, strapped on the HR monitor, piled on the long canyon runs back-to-back-to-back-to-back….., and have my equipment issues worked out.

That leaves me the peace of mind to focus my last few weeks on mental preparation.  And again, I find myself in a much better place than last year.

2009 was my comeback from a 12 year hiatus from running 100s.  I’d forgotten more than I learned.  I convinced myself that I was ready for WSER but deep down knew I was shaky at best mentally - thus dreaded the race.

This year I am relaxed and genuinely excited and looking very much forward to the run.  Why the difference?  My family and friends will again surround me, be my able crew, pacers and cheerleaders.  I travel to and from the race from my HOME - no packing and sleep in my own bed (we all have that pillow don’t we?)!   Check.

I exercised the “can I still run a 100?” question in August by successfully completing the Burning River 100 without incident.  Check.

I also used a new fueling plan at BR100 designed in conjunction with Meredith Terranova, an ultra runner extraordinaire and registered nutritionist, that enables me to drink 85% of my calories during a 100 miler - and keeps my energy and stomach even throughout the entire run.  Check.

I’ve been training in shoes a 1/2 size larger to assure my toes don’t get trashed at altitude (swelling) and during the relentless downhills of WSER.  After numerous runs of 30-50 miles in the hilly canyons, the toes look almost human!. Check.

And our move back to Northern California enabling me to train on the WSER course, in the canyons, with other great ultra friends training for Western has been invaluable. Double Check.

Now all I have to do is wake up from this dream and run the race in three weeks.  Hopefully this ending will be as good as Lost’s…..without the black smoke and needing to die part