I stretched my arms above my head in one of those mmm-that-was-a-restful-night's-sleep manner. I climbed out of bed casually, taking my time. Then the horror struck - I SLEPT THROUGH THE CIM!
I raced through my dreams trying to catch up with the pack. Still I was hours behind and no matter how fast I ran, I never neared the other runners.
It was an anxiety dream of course. And when I'm nervous, there's one solution - get as prepared as can be. Here are the 10 things I'm doing to make sure I'm ready Dec. 6.
1. Trying to get in all the maintenance runs. I have a 4-mile run tonight, a 10 miler on Sunday and then they are simple 3-mile runs after that.
2. I have figured out my race day outfit, including what I am running in and the layers I plan to peel off and toss at the beginning of the marathon. (Yay for Thrift Town and $10.85).
3. I have a food plan in mind including a bagel when I awake at 4 a.m. on race day, and a peanut butter and banana sandwich I'm going to carry with me and eat before the start. It's GU Energy gels, Jelly Belly sports beans and salted potatoes during the race.
4. Although I plan on setting two alarms the morning of the race, the running fairy has agreed to call me when she wakes up that day.
5. The running fairy has also said she would drive me to the bus pick-up at 5 a.m. Yay for running fairies!
6. I have made tentative plans for dinner on the Friday before the race. It's going to be take-out on Saturday, because I want to be in bed by 8 p.m. Carbs will be a part of both dinners.
7. The running fairy had a good idea to study Tim Twietmeyer's suggestions for non-official bathrooms along the racecourse. This may pay off against the generally five-deep lines at the portable toilets.
8. A water bottle is my most constant accessory these last few weeks.
9. The running fairy 2.0 made an Excel spreadsheet that estimates I will be at Kenneth Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard around 10 a.m.; Hawthorne and Fair Oaks just after 11 a.m.; and 33rd and J streets at about noon. Did I mention I'm going to be running FOREVER?
10. I am still figuring out the bag of dry clothes that will meet me at the finish line. Will I want UGGs or flip flops? Hmmmm.
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