Here we go! Body is rebelling a little bit still - between the head cold I’ve got and a bit of stress colitis happening at the moment (or maybe a side effect of all the cold meds I’ve taken this week), I think I’ve got everything ready to go. I haven’t ran in a week thanks to this nasty cold but will get out this afternoon for a short little shake out run.
Perhaps, I’ll leave the cat behind. The race regulations said no dogs, but they didn’t say no cats 😸.
Edit: I should probably clarify- I'm not packing all the gear. The stuff on the right will be used and dropped pre run; the glide and sunscreen, bugspray will be used just before the race and will be left in the car. I'll be filling my fuel at home, but won't be taking more than the 2 500 ml bottles; with a small amount of water in the bladder to rinse my dry mouth during the run. Should be enough 🤞... just didn't want to forget anything as I'm up early to head out the door tomorrow morning.
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SaskAlliecat
Half Marathon
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I did wonder if you were going to take the cat with... There is a shake out run on NRC and I enjoyed that, gives you a bit of umpf before the big day. Once you get out there, your head cold will disappear (take kleenex with you!). Looks like you have enough fuel!! All the best, cant wait to read the report
He thinks he wants to go outside (which I won't let him) but that may be too much even for him 🙀....although maybe it would cure him of his escaping out the door every time we open it.
I'll be taking paper towel instead of Kleenex (thanks for the reminder....see I forgot something....going to put it in my kit now 😆. I knew there was a reason I did this). I find that I'm so sweaty that Kleenex just disintegrates in my hands when running. I won't be taking all the fuel, just filling my water bottles at home (1 1/2 scoops of each in 1 litre) and putting 500 ml or so of water in the bladder for rinsing my mouth out mid run. I find I can't drink water with this distance but rinsing my mouth helps with dry mouth while avoiding the sloshy tummy feeling.
You'll be great Sask. Think positive and reality will follow. The cold and everything else will drop away once you get going. The cat could squeeze into your pack maybe? Or if you have any extra pockets. Go for it! BOOOM!
Thanks Decker. Wouldn't that be a shocker.... an orange cat with his head poking out the back of my pack 😂. He's such a cuddle bug, he'd probably love it.
I like the colour, they just aren't very grey after many of my runs. I had to reapply the Velcro on the back of the heel for my gaiters again this week so they got another hose down and are grey again. They might be a little wider than I need with my bunion, it better too wide than too tight!
Thanks BC. The said no pacers, so pack cats are probably frowned upon...plus he'd probably take off with all my stuff and sleep under a bush 😹.
I realize my mistake, I'm not actually packing the stuff on the right with me. It'll be use pre race and drop in the vehicle. I was using it as a reminder for me but that was misleading...ooops. It is only the 20k, not the 50k, which is a whole other ballgame, I'm not ready to think about, with drop bags and gear changes midrun. Although I do have a little bottle of bug spray in my pack that I have used mid run previously. I could probably drop it though for tomorrow....but I won't 😆.
I was wishing for that on my last run out there a couple weeks ago. The little black flies were so annoying. I may've eaten a few....ok I did eat a few mid run. An energy source 🤔🤢😂!?!
Thanks dear Floss. My schedule of late and this cold has tempered my nerves a bit, race day has crept up. It is what it is, and my goal is definitely to enjoy 😊. There will be no pushing the limits tomorrow, but if I can run it faster than I did in training, I will be happy.
Where's the kitchen sink?!! You will do fabulously I know you will, you are so prepared and sorted. Are you excited?! Can't wait to hear all about it, good luck you will be amazing xx
Couldn't quite get the sink in there...I tried 😂. I'm not sure what I'm feeling at this moment; I'm kind of flat (oh wait, seriously, no pun intended there 🙂). I'm sure once I get there tomorrow and see some friends and toe the line, hit the trails and find some sort of pace, all will be well. It feels weird heading out to a race where I really haven't ran much for distances since running the course 3 weeks ago but I'm been really fatigued and blah. I actually have an appointment with my doctor next week to make sure there isn't something else going on. I had hoped to get it dealt with before race day but it didn't work out so I'm just not going to push it too hard and enjoy the day for what it is... a beautiful day on the trails with a few other hundred runners 😊
Oh no Sask..... Here you go, sounds like you need a virtual running buddy hug! You do have serious running calibre - I can tell from all of your posts. I am sure that you will do great in spite of not running much for awhile because of that. I'm sorry you aren't feeling right - sensible to get into the Docs and checked out. Take care of you and don't overdo it tomorrow, there's always the next time xx
You've got this Sask...you are so well organised and so well prepared, look at all that stuff?!!! Wow..I dont think I would ever be able to do what you do...I think if I were the cat, I'd stay right there till you got back!!! Good luck my adventurous friend x
You sure could do it, it is just one foot in front of the other, which is the goal tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes. Maybe this year with the live tracking on my phone, my hubby might actually get a picture 🙄
You’ve put In all the work saskie, the training, the preparation, the psychological work. Now you just get out there and put one foot in front of the other and breathe and enjoy the race. I’m pleased to hear that you’re getting a medical checkup though. Take care and I look forward to the event write up. 🤗
Thanks Paula. You've been on most my runs with me thanks to runkeeper so have experienced some of my struggles first hand (and know just how slow I am 😆). It will be good to get this event behind me, get things with my health figured out (your anemia SkiMonkey's recent heart attack spurred me to take some of these symptoms a little more seriously)and then just chill for a bit. Back to back HM training plans maybe isn't for me? We'll see. Posting this on here and getting out for my little shake out run is making it a bit more real so I think I'm starting to get a little excited for tomorrow.
He is when he's escaping out the front door! For some reason he wants to go back to his outdoor roots, but we have some non-cat neighbours so he could end up trapped and dumped out in the country 🙀😿. I've become the crazy lady running outside in her pyjamas climbing under the junipers cursing at the cat the whole time she's retrieving him 😂
When I looked at that photograph I thought it was the inside of your local sports shop before realising it was just your running gear, wow, that's a lot of preparation for a parkrun, no it's 20K, I hope the run goes very well for you, good luck 😊👍🏃
Thanks Al. I go a little lighter on my short town runs 😂 but I love my gear for these isolated trail runs. At least this one doesn't have mandatory gear like bear spray, certain amount of calories, a jacket and light, etc, etc, etc like a couple of the others that I have contemplated....and then put to the back burner ..... for now
Ah thanks MC. Race starts in 2 hour 45 minutes and will likely take me over 3 hours so pace yourself so your arms don't get tired 😂. Then you'll need a beverage for the race report if I keep true to form and write a novel.
It looks like you’re all set. Gotta love cats they want to be close to the action. Good luck and most of all enjoy your race! I can’t wait to read you race report.
Thanks Lavender. I'm feeling a little more settled now and am tired so will hopefully sleep ok. It will be an early morning because we have to check in by 7:30 but it won't be much different than a work day, just have to leave the house a little earlier.
Now that’s what I call organised, Sask! I might have to re-evaluate Flat Sadie! (Lovely cat, by the way, I do love a ginger).
Have a fantastic race dear Sask! I hope the head cold eases during the run (running often clears my sinuses), and take it nice and steady - you’ve got this!) xxx
I took some nighttime cold meds last night to ensure a good sleep but am trying to avoid them today. I'm going to through a few cough drops in my hydration vest just in case I get into another coughing fit like last night before bed. There are some long climbs that are hiked that I could safely take one, if needed.
Thanks 😁. When I ordered my hydration vest on line they had initially sent the red one. I hung onto it for a few days, then rechecked my order and realize the mistake wasn't mine. When I contacted the company, I told them I would keep the red one if they didn't have the black one, but I tend to wear a bit of pink with every run. We can't clash, can we? She laughed and agreed and said they'd ship out the proper colour 😂. In hind sight, the red might have been smarter given I ran the hills alone all summer and may have had me stand out a bit more, but my new gaiters serve that purpose now 😎
Thanks snuffy. Gremlins have been locked up and the key has been hidden. Hopefully they stay away. Enjoying myself is the goal today.
So funny, the cat curled up with all your gear. That would be me too. When my granddaughter was small, and they all lived with me, my daughter heard a meowing coming from the basket under the buggy when she was halfway up the road. One cat had stowed away.
Anyway, that’s the most comprehensive flat anybody pre race that Ive ever seen.
I’m wishing you tons of luck and really looking forward to your race report xx
I'm organized to a fault. It can bring a lot of stress actually, but laying it out and putting absolutely everything I need for today did help. Then I packed everything away that needs to go with me and moved the rest to the island in the kitchen to get everything ready today. Now, it is time to eat breakfast, have my cup of coffee and pack my kit and off we go!
I did the 20k for the BeaverFlatFifty trail race. I've just finished writing my race report and will post it shortly. It was a tough one but I finished.
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Feeling flat 
Swansea half done and dusted!