TALES FROM THE TRAIL (AND SOMETIMES THE ROAD TOO)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Winding Down

As I approach this weekend’s race, I continue my wind down.  My husband thought I should rest two days before the 50k.  I compromised with a 1,500 yard swim and about thirty minutes of strength training today at the gym.  I relished every minute of it, in a melancholy sort of way.  Then I continued at home with floor exercises and foam rolling, foam rolling, foam rolling.  And oh ya, my cartwheel conditioning. Smile  I won’t post the wheel barrels – there’s too much screaming, falling flat on my face (& laughing hysterically) involved.

Struggling To Hand Walk To The Wall, Stopped By The Frame (Oops!)

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Youngest Son Crawls Up Wall Like It’s Nothing!

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My expectations for Saturday’s 50k are much different from my last attempt at a 50k.  I went into my first 50k (Bulldog) during the hottest month of the year, INJURED, and with pretty much no doubt that I would finish.  I did not finish.  What took me out of that race was something that I NEVER expected – heat exhaustion.  I go into my 2nd attempt at a 50k without injury, during a cool weathered month and place my probability at finishing around 25%.  I’m not sad about that.  I’m just realistic.  Hubby says that he thinks I’m going to surprise myself.  I hope that I do.

And so tomorrow, I will grow quieter.  That’s what I do when a big race approaches.  I grow quieter until I no longer talk (and that’s not like me at all, to not talk, that is).  I will also I run errands:  turn in attendance, stop by the running store for more gels, buy the pre-race dinner (jasmine rice, teriyaki chicken with broccoli and chest nuts) and more foam rolling.  Hopefully, I will be in bed by 8:30, or 9:00 at the latest.

A big thanks from me to readers’ advice and encouragement!  You probably don’t realize how much you’ve helped.

Until next race report, another blast from the past : )  High school volleyball team.  I didn’t really have fun (as you can tell, I’m back row, far left)

volleyball

8 comments:

  1. Good luck, girl. I'll be thinking about you and sending you lots and lots of positive energy!

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  2. Thanks so much Green Girl -- I will reach out for that positive energy and gulp it up in abundance : ))

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  3. Good luck! Good luck! Good luck! I hope your race goes well. Your cartwheel training is cracking me up!

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  4. Thanks Whitney! Off to bed I go. I hope I can sleep.

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  5. All the best Lauren! You will surprise yourself. You are ready for a good one.

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  6. Thanks Johann. I had a blast, and finished my first 50k. So happy!

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  7. i hope you had a good race/run! walking up the wall... interesting. that looks harder than cartwheels to me.

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  8. Thanks Lindsay, I think walking up the wall is a lot harder. And it's a lot harder than lifting weights too. Talk about lifting your own body weight : )

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