Final Approach

Week 18: 2/8/10 - 2/13/10 (Race week!)

Even mellower this week.

Monday: Off day.

Tuesday: 8 miles, around Town Lake, easy.

Wednesday/Thursday: Rained out.

Friday: 5 miles, easy. Switching over to running at 7:00 IN THE AM so as to prepare myself for the conditions on race day - likely ass cold.

Saturday: 4 miles, easy.

Total weekly mileage: 17

So now it just comes down to actually doing this. I've checked out the race course, and it looks to be a good one. The race starts downtown on Congress Street, just south of the state capital, crosses south of the river to do a 6-mile out-and-back, then follows the river northwest along the north bank for about 4 miles. Around mile 10, it turns north off the river and then enters a series of rolling hills and gradual uphills over the next 8 miles or so past Camp Mabry and through some residential neighborhoods.

It looks like the key to the race is going to be at mile 17. Generally, at that point in the race you're at about 1:50-2:00, starting to feel a little fatigued, and the realization dawns on you that you've still got 9+ miles to go. Fortunately, this course is designed such that the 17 mile marker coincides with the a sharp right-hand turn that redirects you back in the direction of the finish line, and the 18-mile mark corresponds with the peak elevation in the course. In fact, once you hit the 18 mile mark, it's pretty much all downhill to the finish, modulo a few minor hiccups. So it looks like the race is pretty much going to boil down to being patient and not doing anything stupid for the first 17 miles, and then staying mentally tough through the last 9 miles (with the aid of some fortuitous downhills).

The forecast for tomorrow at race time calls for 42 - 50 degree weather, partially cloudy, and high winds (only 20% chance of precipitation). So aside from the wind, it looks like pretty good weather.

So here's to spending this Valentine's Day like I spend all the other ones: alone and in excruciating pain. It's go time!