Race Day Eve

I had a complete rest day yesterday as I felt a wee bit weary. Bobby has been on nights this past week and with him coming in at 3am, and me being a light dozer, it's led to a lot of broken sleep. I'm not a great sleeper at the best of times either - it accumulated to make me one tired bunny.

I also took a rest day today too. I woke up with a few tender points - my hips, glutes, and neck. Lack of sleep is a big trigger, so is stress. Not that I'm stressed at the moment but I think subconsciously, I'm a little apprehensive about tomorrow's 10K race.

It'll be my first race in 7 months since burning out. I know I haven't prepared for it as well as I should, or could have. I can just about run 10K now so I'm confident I'll manage the distance. But, considering it's my 'long' run these days, I will suffer if I try to increase the pace from what I'm used to at the moment.

I ran a road 10K with Bobby 2 weeks ago in around 62-63 minutes. Tomorrow's race is flat in that it has little elevation, however it's mostly trail/grass/uneven surface. The route takes us twice around a figure of 8 loop - along a lake. The path is only suitable for the width of one runner, and if you want to overtake, you have to run on a camber. It's not the easiest of routes, even though on paper it looks perfect for fast times. I found this out last year when wearing my racing flats. I had a hell of a job keeping my feet in places, and ignoring the pebbles and jagged stones which I could feel on the soles of my shoes. I won't be making that mistake tomorrow and will be wearing my trail shoes. They may be heavier, but lets face it, even if I borrowed Paula Radcliffe's legs, I still wouldn't go any faster.

The course is also mentally challenging too. You pass the middle of the figure of 8 loop 4 times. There's a lot of opportunity to think that you want to stop. It's great for the spectators, not so for the (mentally weak) runners.



Saying all this, I have butterflies in my stomach. I am feeling excited about what the race will bring, and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Before a lot of my earlier races last year (pre burnout), I was apathetic. Obviously looking back now, I can see that this was a warning sign.....



Back to the race - I'm going to go out on a limb and state that I want to break 60 minutes. Although much slower than the 10K I did 8 months ago by about 12 mins, I can't live in the past. I have to go with now, and now I'm hoping I'm capable of dipping under 60. I don't think I'm in any shape to go faster although you always hope and pray for that dream race. The weather doesn't look good for tomorrow either, but if I'm honest, I've run some of my best times in rainy/windy conditions.

Of course, race day eve isn't complete without the fashion show to try out different combinations of race day wear. My kids and Bobby dread this. I disappear, only to reappear minutes later donning what I 'might' wear for the race and ask their opinion. Bobby asks me practical stuff like 'do you feel comfortable in it?' and I ask things like 'do I look fat in this'. Actually, that's the only question I ask and always get the same reply. I'm sure if I weighed 200lbs I'd get the same reply....

What usually happens is that I go through lots of changes of clothing, different combinations, tri shorts with red t-shirt; running shorts with vest, running shorts with black top etc. Usually, as is often the case when the fairer sex is shopping for clothes, the first outfit, in the first shop we visit, is the one we plump for in the end. Same with my race day wear -I end up wearing what I always wear - t-shirt and shorts.

However, the big question tonight was 'what colour buff should I wear and will it clash with the orange in my new trainers?'

I usually have short hair - wash and go, no fuss, that's me. I rarely look in the mirror and just run my fingers through it. However, I've grown it a bit lately. Having naturally curly hair with a mind of it's own, it's no wonder I've kept it short for so long. Now it's longer, and grows outwards and upwards instead of down, I have trouble keeping it out of my face during runs. It won't tie back - well, it will but won't stay there, so I've had to resort to buffs worn in a sort of bandana style to keep it out of harms way.....

I think I'll wear the purple one, or, maybe the orange and white one.

Whatever the weather, I'm going to give the race all I've got - I always do, but the difference this year is that I actually want to race tomorrow and am looking forward with excitement and anticipation. My stomach is filled with happy fluttering butterflies rather than the awful fear and trepidation which was so apparent last year.