Up to the start

On Sunday October 9th, 2011, I completed a full marathon!

I've been needing to tell you all about it, but have been waiting on picture, but I'll just add them in later.

So, here is what happened up to the start line.

My sisters, mother and I drove from California, up to Portland on Friday and Saturday (race on Sunday).  We hit the outlet mall just south of Portland and arrived in the city at 2:30, just in time to check into our hotel, and head to the race expo.

The expo was simply crazy!
People were everywhere, booths on three underground levels of the Hilton (I think it was the Hilton) Hotel.  Booths selling: shoes, clothes, food, Gu, water, logo wear, pins, maps, jewelry, exercise equipment, massages, sign-ups for other races, and I'm pretty sure I saw one selling tutus.  We walk around and hit what was interesting.  Finding a running pouch for two of my sisters.  I found some humorous stickers with great sayings like "26.2 Because I'm the full Crazy!", and "If it wasn't for me, you'd have no one to pass" and "I thought they said 'Rum'!".

From the expo, we headed to a family friend's across town where she made her parent's stolen and secret pasta sauce for us.  So yummy.  It was great to try and relax with friends, but I was feeling incredibly anxious.  And very full and roll-polly.  Tappering and carb-loading, I now know, have that effect on me.

We headed back to the hotel, laid everything out.  Pinned numbers on shirts, tagged our shoes, filled our hydro belts, and rationed out our Gu.  My sister took a Tylenol PM and now will forever do so before a big race.  I hopped in the shower, headed to bed and had a restless nights sleep.



the marathon.  The whole kit and caboodle!  The big enchilada! All 26.2 miles of it!

Tapering

Well the marathon is on Sunday, three short days from today.

So my last two weeks have been spent tapering (running less), and resting.   And now it is all for carb loading.  Carbs should be 65-70% of my diet from now until the race.  The last three days I have been having carbs as 50-60% of my diet.  Last night also involved streaking my hair with pink to get pumped for the race. (Though I may have to do it again tonight to get some more pop!)

One of the things about tapering is that it can drive you crazy.  And while I've been trying to embrace the crazy this year, this type of crazy was not what I was talking about.  Tapering madness is were you feel every ache and pain, get into your head way to much, and generally freak out that you are not prepared for the 26.2 miles ahead.  I can feel the anxiety creep into my fingers as I am typing this...

But this is normal.  So they say.

So now it is time to take a deep breath, look back at old posts, pictures, and have faith.  

In 3 days I will be ready to watch the miles move below my feet.

:)