THE NIGHT BEFORE A LONG RUN...

PREPPING FOR A LONG RUN TAKES TIME. I ONLY (IT'S ALL RELETIVE) HAVE 13.1 MILES (HALF MARATHON) TO DO IN THE MORNING, BUT MY TRAINING SCHEDULED WANTS ME TO DO IT IN 1:50 (UGH).

HERE'S HOW I PREPARE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE:
*WATCH WHAT I EAT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE LONG RUNS (NO REALLY SPICEY STUFF, YOU KNOW!)
*START HYDRATING...WATER WATER WATER!
*MAP OUT MY ROUTE(EITHER IN MY MIND OR DRIVE A COURSE) OR DEFER TO MY WING-MEN :)
*CONSIDER AVAILABLE/POSSIBLE BATHROOM AND WATER STOPS IN THE ROUTE
*CHECK WEATHER.COM FOR TEMPS, WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION

EVENING BEFORE:
*CHARGE MY GARMIN WATCH & IPOD
*CHECK THE WEATHER AND WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION...AGAIN
*SET OUT WATER, CLIFF BLOCKS (MY NEW FAVORITE ELECTROLYTE SUPPLIER-STRAWBERRY-YUMMY)
EXTRA PIECES OF GUM, A COTTON SOCK (WHICH I USE TO BLOW MY NOSE, AFTER I FARMER-BLOW (SORRY, I DO)
*TAKE IBUPROFIN
*CHECK WEATHER...AGAIN
*TEXT MY PEEPS TO CONFIRM TIME AND PLACE
*HAVE A GLASS OF WINE OR A BEER (WHAT? RUNNERS NEED CARBS)

MORNING OF A LONG RUN:
*COFFEE
*LIGHT BREAKFAST OF TOAST WITH BUTTER AND JELLY
*WATER, WATER, WATER
*CHECK WEATHER...AGAIN :)
*PUT GLIDE ON ANY UNSUSPECTING SPOTS WHERE SEAMS OF SHORTS OR TIGHTS CAUSE CHAFFING. USUALLY, THERE ARE PLACES I FORGET TO GLIDE AND FIND OUT WHEN I STEP INTO THE SHOWER AND FEEL THE BURN OF THE CHAFFED SKIN---OWEY
*TAKE A PILL TO RELIEVE ANY TUMMY ISSUES. THIS IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR, FOLLOWING MANY LONG RUNS AND RACES. IT'S REALLY A WONDER DRUG THAT HELPS RELAX MY TUMMY. OTHERWISE, I SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY ON THE COUCH...ISN'T RUNNING FUN.
*SIP MORE COFFEE
*START GETTING DRESSED
*ASSEMBLE MY GARMIN WATCH TO CATCH THE SATTELITE
*LACE UP
*AND DRIVE TO OUR START DESTINATION!

WE'RE OFF...

TRAINING TAKES GOBS OF TIME AND PREPARATION. IT'S WORTH IT, THOUGH, WHEN YOU RUN PAST THE WONDERFUL FARGO SPECTATORS THAT LINE THE STREETS WITH THEIR SIGNS, WHISTLES AND HOOTS, GALLOP (OR CRAWL) THROUGH THE FINISH LINE AND SLIDE YOUR HEAD INTO THAT BEAUTIFUL MEDAL! INCIDENTALLY, FARGO HAS SOME OF THE BEST MEDALS YOU'LL FIND IN A RACE.

SO, GET GOING. SET OUT YOUR STUFF, CHECK THE WIND DIRECTION, AND CRACK OPEN A BREWSKI...IT'S PART OF THE GAME PLAN...RELAX AND ENJOY!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
KATHLEEN