Eeek! Tomorrow's the big day!!!! This week has been uneventful (in terms of fitness, at least!). Took Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday off to nap in the afternoon, for the sake of 'tapering'. On Wednesday, some unexpected "life" circumstances led me to do a quick run somewhere new. The plan was to do a quick 5 km. I mapped a route on Google Maps and expected to take it easy. What I failed to account for was the elevation profile. I quickly realized I should've ran counter clockwise to avoid an uphill finish! This week, I also joined the Back2SQ1 group for a fun "carbloading" dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant. I've been having plenty of Vietnamese food lately and the hearty, filling, pho never fails to hit the spot :) Yesterday after work I trekked to Hamilton to pick up my race kit. Of course, they make you walk almost 30 km (exaggerating) past the expo to pick up your bib and shirt. I met Denis, Lax, Drew, and Brigida. We bought matching gear, and I took a photo with the infamous Grim Reaper. I treated him as nicely as I could, hoping he'll return the favour tomorrow ha! I also got a glimpse of the stadium where the finish line sits. I got the chills, knowing that in about 2 days, I will be running (? limping) in there, at the brink of my mental and physical limits, hoping for adrenaline and the cheer of the crowds to push me through. Side note: I'm amused at the palindromic number 3003 of my race bib. It's almost as if the universe is pushing me to do 30 and reminding me personally (twice) that I can do it! My Chilly half bib was also a palindrome "101" and somehow this trivial coincidence means something to me.
Friday evening was spent playing 4s volleyball. Not sure if that was the best idea but I just can't help it! Loved going out, putting in the hours to get better, with good company. Yes, my legs are a bit sore as a result, but this morning, I scheduled another RMT visit and asked for a 30-minute tune up to make sure there are minimal knots tomorrow :) Hmm, so final thoughts? I take the most comfort knowing that I'm only running, and not racing per se. This will be the first time I'll be doing this distance, so the plan is to start slow, and finish strong. I watched the Around the Bay race preview (link here), and read Dayna Pidhoresky's 30 Tips for Race Day for some prep. I decided my strategy is to treat the race like a long run, rather than a race. It seems counterintuitive for me to not push my pace limits on race day, but tomorrow will be a proverbial, testing out the waters. I plan to crest the hills with short strides, take walk and gel breaks as necessary, and dedicate a kilometre or two to my amazing friends and fellow runners who encouraged me to sign up in the first place. As an aside, I'm also using the race to reflect on other life circumstances that have shaken my life recently. I don't want to "air out" too much here, but tomorrow will be as much a test of my physical resilience after a challenging week of mental and emotional stressors -- Finishing strong will be extra special for me. Good luck to my fellow ATB runners!!!! Whether you're pushing for a PB or running for the first time, I hope tomorrow goes well for you!
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