The Countdown Is On

The countdown is on!

Then again, I’m a numbers nerd and am always counting down to one thing or another.  It’s one of the ways I keep myself motivated and excited to get out the door and grind out the miles day after day.

This coming Saturday is the Mississippi Blues Marathon.  This will be my third time running the Blues and my second time running it as a Race Ambassador (#MSBlueCrew).  That being said, how strange is it that for the second time in a row, I’m running this race without specifically training for it but instead using it as a training run for a different race?

31 days from today, I will  be toeing the line for my first 100 miler! I’m beyond excited!!! To say I’m terrified would be a huge understatement.  Am I going to back out of this race?  No. Way.  This is a dream race for me!!!

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If you think back, the training for this race started after I returned home from the Berlin Marathon last fall.  My coach gave me two weeks in which to recover from the race and the jet-lag and then, BOOM! We hit the ground training for the 100M.

In some ways, it feeling like I’ve been training for this race FOREVER! In other ways, I feel like I’ve just got started and the race can’t be here already!!! There’s lots more miles to be run!

Noooo!!!  Not yet!!!

No matter what my mind says, in a month, I’ll be running 100 miles…hopefully in one day!

Rocky Raccoon 100 give you a 30 hour window in which to complete the 100 miles. I’m guessing I’m going to be needing every second on that clock to run those miles.  Remember, speed is not my friend. *just being honest*

I will be relying on my Altra LonePeak to keep my feet happy.

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My Zensah POP Compression Sleeves to keep my legs happy.

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ChafeX has been awesome!  Last year, ChafeX let me have over 2200 miles of chafe free running.  We’re going to add another 100M to that!

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I’m relying on Tailwind for my energy and hydration source throughout the race!  Great stuff, Tailwind!!!

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I’ll be carrying my Tailwind and anything extra I might need with me in my Ultimate Direction Jenny Vest.  This vest has been with me through many(!) miles!

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So I can see where I’m going during the nighttime hours, I have a new headlamp! I’ll be trying a Petzl NAO+750.  It’s lightweight and bright!

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I have two terrific pacers from my racing team, Renegade Endurance.   Good people, Renegades!!!

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Last, but most definitely NOT least, MFH will be there at the S/F (Start/Finish) loop.  I’ll see his face and be encouraged!  I plan on grabbing a quick “huggna” as I roll through the loops.  His love and encouragement….can’t beat it!!!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again~absolutely none of this would be possible without his support.  This guy is my rock! He is by cheerleader~my encourager!!!  He keeps my feet on the terra firma. Couldn’t do it without him!

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People follow and see the logged miles.  What they don’t see is the mess I am when I complete those miles.  This is some raw honestly here, folks!  MFH meets me by the washing machine after those runs and gently helps me out of my running gear.  He takes off my compression gear.  He brings me a bacon cheeseburger and a beer *my favorite post long run food.* He sees the gritty side of long distance running.  He sees my tears.  He comforts me and tells me I can do it.

MFH (My Favorite Husband) is as good as they come!

I am blessed!

So, yes!  The countdown is on!!!  I’m super excited!  I’m even more excited that MFH will be there with me for this race!

This is going to be awesome!!!

#IRun4Aiden

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#teamZensah

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#AbbottWMM

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#ChafeX

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#AltraRunning

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#IRun4Ultra

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