The end of the road (are we there yet?)

pgmcpq

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

You look like you're her secret service escort!

Very good ! Did not see that - but you're absolutely right.

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Absolutely! You blasted past the lead runner, like you were out for a casual jog! In one foul swoop you totally demoralized him and made him feel like he was running backwards (you probably bullied smaller children in the school-yard as a child too. ).

thanks - now I feel bad...

Thursday: 6 miles, recovery, grass. Pace: 9.38

Forgot the HRM this morning. My first injury this training cycle. My wrist under the Garmin was grazed and bleeding. Not sure how this happened but it explains the blood I found on my LSR last Friday. Switched the Garmin to my right wrist.

Friday: 13 miles, Pace: 8.18

Garmin got in a huff today ! Would not power on so had to return and retrieve my old trusty 205. Another morning where I started before it was light out.

Plan was to try to focus on form today Knees were feeling a bit achy last night so I took the night off - no core/strength work. This is usually a warning sign that I have lost focus and am landing back on my heels again. With the knees starting to object I was not sure how this morning would go. Pleasently suprised by how well I was/my knees were feeling although fatigue set in early - about mile 9 so I think there is some residual from the earlier efforts in the week - fatigue is good, knee discomfort is not. Tomorrow is a rest day and Sunday is another HM. Right now the plan is to run the HM as a PMP run ... though a nasty voice keeps tempting me to race it and try for another sub 1.30 .... but I think a relatively gentle 1.35 would be more training specific.

pgmcpq

Sunday: 3 miles, HM, 2 miles

Popular HM - fast flat senic and with decent prize money. Against that the last three miles are on a concrete/brick walkway and there is a chance of getting halted to allow the light rail to pass .

Planned to run this HM as a MP run ( 10 PMP miles the race the last three) thinking that maybe 1.35 was a decent target. Clearly got a bit carried away ! Three miles warmup run (8.35). This left me a little late to the start resulting in a poor starting position behind the 8m/m signs. First mile was 7.47 so when the crowds thinned out I picked up the pace a bit. First five miles where over 7m/m. Last 7 were below 7m/m. Too fast for PMP miles. I was torn between the temptation of a flat fast course and not wanting to put my last pre taper week in jepoardy. Finished with a set of 6.4x miles. Next year this might be a race I target - the potential for a very good time exists.

This year I hope I did not leave too much on the course. More a tempo than PMP session, it was still a useful tune up. After a drink, bagel and bannana ((too tempting) off for two more miles.

The week : Plan to do the V02 session this week.

Week|PlanWeek|M|T|W|T|F|Sat|Sun|Total
5 | P&D 5 | rest | 10 w/6*1000 | 15LRP | 6RP + 4RP | 12 LRP | 5RP | 18 w/14PMP | 70
5 | MyPlan | Rest | LT12 w/7 | 14LRP | 6RP w6*100 | 9 w/5*600 | 6RP | 5+HM | 63
5 | Actual | 6RP | LT 15 w/7 | 11 GA | 6 RP | 13 LRP | Rest | 3+HM+2 | 69
|HR(Avg/Max)| | 154/200 | 135/192 | | | | |
| Weather | | | | | | | |
| Comments | | | Pace 8.27 | | Pace 8.18 | | HM 1.31.05 |



Monday: 6 miles recovery - Pace: 9.47

Tough run in heavy wind and rain. Not much fun.

pgmcpq

Tuesday: V02 11 miles with 5*1200m. Temp: 72f/86%:eek:

Coming two days after the HM, I was trying to rationalize not doing this session. When I stepped out the morning was not too warm but very humid. Still if not now then when - so I agreed to give it a shot.
4 miles warmup and then :

1200m|1|2|3|4|5
Time | 4.51 | 4.42 | 4.45 | 4.42 | 4.50
Pace | 5.59 | 6.03 | 6.03 | 6.07 | 6.06
HR Avg | 157 | 141 | 151 | 163 | 163
HR Max | 185 | 156 | 163 | 170 | 169


Pretty happy with this under the circumstances. Once again the HR max on the first 1200m is interesting. This seems to reflect the strain of accelerating to a pace initially. Once I reach the pace the strain is less (not that this in any way makes this a fun session!). Between most of the laps was a 400m recovery and a few seconds for water - but between 3 and 4 I took another lap for 800m. I think the time/pace inconsistencies are due to shifting lanes to avoid walkers.

Finishing the final lap there was a friend - with a camera. So I now have a shot of me just at the end of the final lap. The expression on my face is priceless - fear, loathing, pain and relief that the end was in sight. I do this for fun ?

Wednesday: 15 miles, Pace 8.37, HR Avg: 131 Max: 190. Temp 63f/86%

Difficult. Felt pretty fatigued and had to really gut the middle miles out on this run. Air better than yesterday - though the humidity figure was the same. Best thing about this run is that it is over !

There is a storm on the way so plan for the rest of the week - including my last 20+ mile LSR are in danger. Dear god not the threadmill ... please I'll be good ....

pgmcpq

The tail end of Nicole - a tropical storm - hit us over the last two days. So while running in rain in not a problem, running in 30-50mph winds and heavy rain is.

Thursday am: 6 miles recovery, threadmill. Pace <9.00 ( 6.5mph), 1% tm elevation
A/C seemed to be failing in the gym ..windows were steamed up. Uggh.

Thursday pm 4 miles recovery. Pace 9.00 (6.6mph). 1% tm elevation
Best part - it was short.

Thursday: 9.5 miles, (8 threadmill + 1.5 w/6 strides on the track).

Woke up - dealt with minor flooding in the house. Rain eased as I got breakfast so I considered an outdoor run. Realized much of the park could be flooded so got in the car and headed to the gym. Various detours. Almost there - realized I had no water and now the rain has really eased and the forecast on the radio tells me it is over. What the hell - turn back get water - head to the park. Almost back home - skies open again. **** ! Back get water, round diversions again on way back to the gym.

8 miles on the threadmill (1-2% elevation). A progression run beginning at 8.30m/m (7mph) to < 7.30 (8.1mph).

Back home - rain has now stopped so swing by the track to get some strides in. Short (re)warmup and then to the track. Do 6*100 and call it a day (10 are called for but I am now running very late). Back to car. No keys. Double **** !! I am not used to running with car keys so I had just stuffed them in my pocket. Ok retrace steps. Minor panic setting in. Finally after retracing the warmup at almost the end of a loop of the track I find the keys. Home. Eat. Cold bath. Work. Update log. The End.

Perkina3

well done mate... sounds like u are really digging in for the final haul

pgmcpq

Perkina3 wrote: »

well done mate... sounds like u are really digging in for the final haul

Thanks - last week before taper starts - need to make it count !

Saturday: 22 miles (w4+1 PMP), Pace 8.01, HR Avg 142, Max 191, Temp 65f/sunny

Last 20+ mile run before Dublin. Planned to drop in some MP miles. I was thinking 4+3+2+1 intervals with 1 mile recovery, but left the first interval to late in the run to get them in. By the time I had completed the first 4 I was at mile 17 and into an area where the road surface was poor. So I left it another mile - then need to stop by the gym to get water .... Bottom line I did 4+1 MP miles.
Truth is I did not feel great at the start so was a bit unsure about the PMP miles and worried that I might be pushing too hard at this point.
Still a good session, completed the 22 and still felt I had something to give.

The week:

Week|PlanWeek|M|T|W|T|F|Sat|Sun|Total
3 | P&D 3 | rest | 6RP+4RP | 11 w5*1200m | 14 LR | 8 w8*100 | 5RP | 20 | 68
3 | MyPlan | 6RP+4RP | 11 w/5*1200 | 14LRP | GA 8 w8*100 | 5 RP | 20+ w/8MP | Rest | 68+
3 | Actual | 6RP | 11 w/5*1200 | 15LRP | 6RP+4RP | GA 9 w6*100| 22 w/5MP | Rest | 71
|HR(Avg/Max)| | 152/194 (185*) | 130/190 | Threadmill | Threamill+Track | |
| Weather |Rain/Wind | 72f/86% Humid | Temp 63f/86% | | | 65f/sunny | |
| Comments | |Max HR on 1200s = 185! | | | | Pace 8.01 | |




Monday: 7 miles w8*100. Grass/wood/track. Pace (6 miles 9.16) HR 143 Max 184. Temp 52f/82%

Ironically taper begins with a mile longer Monday morning session than usual. These P&D guys are such kidders ! Miserable morning - raw - cold, wet and windy. Not sure there was much recovery in it. Strides were slow - was only hitting ~6.20m/m.

This is taper ? I was thinking more ..... sunshine, flowers with soft cuddly animals frolicking by the side of the pathways ...

This weekend I have a 5k Saturday (which I plan to race assuming I feel up to it) and a HM on Sunday which I will use as a LSR - aiming at approx 1.40 finish (I need to run this to complete a race series).

pgmcpq

Tuesday: 12 miles, Pace 8.13 HR Avg: 132 Max 148 Temp 54f.

Well that left me a little puzzled/worried - just a little. Last medium long midweek run. Decided to insert two MP miles - just trying to "groove in" the feeling of MP pace. Chilly morning, but dry and with less wind. First nine miles were fine. The first four miles were before sunrise so I had to keep a close eye on the ground for fear I'd turn an ankle. Ran easily enough without looking at the watch. Overtook some kids with shirts from the the local high school - ( gotta show these teenagers who is boss - while I still can:o).

When I dropped the pace to do the two PMP miles I was unable to hit the target pace. Results are 7.32 and 7.29 when the target is 7.25. Looking at the HR figures for the two miles Avg 136, 143 with Max 146,147 suggests I was not trying too hard . Strange. I know that cold and damp conditions tend to make it harder for me to warm up, but this was after a 9 miles. ( Early taper madness ? Perhaps but it the first target I have failed to hit in this training cycle ).

ronanmac

I don't know enough about the science of marathon training to explain not hitting your targets for the first time, but for what it's worth...
1. You've been running a huge volume of miles in training for a good while now
2. You ran 22 miles on Saturday, and followed that up on Monday with seven miles coupled with repeats
3. You stuck the two MP miles in of your own volition, ie they weren't in your training programme.

You DEFINITELY have no cause to be worried (not even "just a little" ). Stick with the plan as you have until now, and you'll have a strong marathon. That you did the 22 miler with something still to give has got to give you confidence.

Looking forward to meeting you, seeing as we'll be in the same pace group!

pgmcpq

ronanmac wrote: »

I don't know enough about the science of marathon training to explain not hitting your targets for the first time, but for what it's worth...
1. You've been running a huge volume of miles in training for a good while now
2. You ran 22 miles on Saturday, and followed that up on Monday with seven miles coupled with repeats
3. You stuck the two MP miles in of your own volition, ie they weren't in your training programme.

You DEFINITELY have no cause to be worried (not even "just a little" ). Stick with the plan as you have until now, and you'll have a strong marathon. That you did the 22 miler with something still to give has got to give you confidence.

Looking forward to meeting you, seeing as we'll be in the same pace group!

Minor stuff compared to the sessions you've be putting in ! You are right of course .... still I do plan to drop short MP intervals (2-3) miles into some non-recovery until the last week. Not to achieve any training progress but simply to try to get a "feel" for MP. For a two miles I would not have expected fatigue to be a factor. It's a bit of a bad time to be missing targets .... thought the HR suggests that the heart was not in it (not pun intended !). I always find the last few weeks difficult - I just want to get the sessions done and get on to the event !

Looking forward to putting faces to screen names.

pgmcpq

I'll keep this brief ... but for those of you who remember the leaving cert can this has the structure of Shakespearearn tragedy.

Act I

Wednesday: 6 miles with 8*100. Pace (5 Miles): HR Avg 145 Max 185. HR for strides Avg:143/160

HR a little high but otherwise a mice run.

Thursday: 8 miles. Pace: 7.53, HR Avg: 141 Max 200

OK well after Tuesday I decided to drop in another two PMP miles to see how they went. Hit the targets this time but the effort seemed high. Garmin Connect was down so it wasn't until later I saw my HR maxing at 200 on the second PMP. Not good. Friday is a rest day anyway but obviously really needed.

Ok so the weekend is a double-headed. Saturday is a well known 5k which a few people I know are involved with. Sunday is the Staten Island HM - the fifth and final in the NY MH grand prix. My plan is to race the 5k and use the HM as a long run - not to push it but with an eye on MP pace, as long as it feels ok, as a final rehersal.

Saturday: 9 miles total : Hoboken UMC 5k. 18.52(Note 1) 11th place, 1st AG (Note 2)

Two miles warmup.

Well first on Friday a section of road on the 5k course by the Hudson River collapsed. Indeed - collapsed. So the course had to be rerouted. This is an urban setting so we are talking road closures etc (and we are down one road already!). So the course is no longer certified (note 1).

Was chatting to friends at the start so again got caught off guard and got another not-ideal starting position.
Race itself went well once I had dodged the obstacle course that was first mile. Around that time a woman latched on to me. Being the gentleman that I am I was ok with this for half a mile and the two of us continued overtaking a healthy number of runners. But eventually I decided that she was looking a little too fresh and it was time for her to do her share so I dropped off slightly and began pacing off her. Which worked very well. I figured at some point I'd fade and she'd kick on as we were doing close to a 6.00 mile pace. But in fact she faded somewhere about 1.5 miles and I was left on my own. I was pretty much at my limit and sure enough although I continued to overtake the pace seemed to start tailing off and the gapsto the next runners started to rise. I overtook a teenager at one point and he started to pace off me, Enough - run your own race and stop leeching off the old geezers. So I dropped him. With a 1/4 mile to the little gurrier rejoined me for a couple of seconds and then took off like he shifted gear. Kids today!
Given the way the early week had gone I was amazed to see 18.xx on the clock and sprinted for the finish to the cheers of Mrs P who had risen to see me in. Even more amazed to take 11th overall in what tends to be a very competitive race. My temporary pacee/pacer from mile 0.5 to 1.5 won the women's race. The gurrier of course won the u19s section. I was actually 2nd in my age group but 1st was the overall winner (in 16.xx - not bad for an old guy) - some guy (ringer!) in from Florida. So I got the AG top prize -a trophy and a $25 New Balance gift certificate. Now I have to travel to the 'burbs to spend it - but damn it if I have to spend $20 on gas to get there so be it. I am going to parade this $25 gift certificate around - look I've virtually a pro!

Offical results are not online yet.

After the race I put in another four miles- which naturally included a run up to see the collapsed road !

Act II

Sunday: Staten Island HM 1.36.

Getting to this run involved a ferry trip (which I almost managed to screw up for me and Mrs P.). In short the ferry was late ( or the tracel advice was bad) and I doubt many on it made it to their corals before the race started. I still had my bag and was in line for the porto-potty when the race started. So the planned two mile warmup did not happen - in fact no warmup happened No worries as I was not planning to race this any way, Joining the end of the race was an experience. People do very very very stange things at the back of races. I have heard of such things but never seen them. Stopping to take photos, I got snipped of 'first date' stories - and of course the regulation -get water and immediately stop to drink in front of the table, But I am not racing so I take it philosophically. Took it easy but was able to clock MP miles off without too much trouble and then step it up for the last two three miles for a nice run. Was reasonably pleased with the run - MP miles were clocked up with undue effort. Fears calmed - plans for Dublin are coming together nicely. Two weeks taper and I'm in good shape..

Act III (ten minutes later)

After a quick drink - a bagel and a stretch to fix a small cramp that had begun in my right calf. I started the extra four miles to make my planned 17. I began the course again running back across the median in the road wiht the idea of hooking up with Mrs P. At 2.13 miles disaster strikes. I get a sharp pain in my right leg below the calf msucle and my running is over. Damn cramp. Tried to stretch it out - no dice. Limped back to the race and took some Gatorade and got a salt table. No effect. Oh #@$# oh $!@$@. Maybe this is not a cramp.

Back to Shakespeare : Remember the court jester figure (The Fool) in King Lear.popping in with good but unheeded advice..... Well :

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

.... Definitely need to be careful! ....

In short I fear I have done some real damage. I'm sitting alternating heat and ice on it (which has worked in the past). I'll give it a day or two ... but the speed with which this happened has me fearing the worst. Looks like it is the achilles (high up) rather than the calf.

menoscemo

Oh no!!! Get to a physio asap.
You definately have been following a schedule Of races and PMP runs that baffles me. Honestly, if you don't run another mile before dublin I can't imagine you missing your target, just rest up and get that calf fixed!!!

plodder

menoscemo wrote: »

Oh no!!! Get to a physio asap.
You definately have been following a schedule Of races and PMP runs that baffles me. Honestly, if you don't run another mile before dublin I can't imagine you missing your target, just rest up and get that calf fixed!!!

+1. Don't delay going to the physio. Rest (or RICE) on its own, isn't worth risking at this stage. My first marathon, back in '04 I got a slight calf tear, and a physio was able to fix it in two weeks.

ronanmac

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Definitely get to a physio. Even if heat/cold works, you need to find out what caused it. Get to a physio, get it treated, and then ignore the advice of not running on it for another three months or so. Take it easy and use all the brilliant and tough training you've put in when you get to Dublin.

By the way, nice result in the 5k. You seem to have taken a bit of a liking to this winning mullarkey!

pgmcpq

OK ....so based on the replies to my question about the impact of not running for two weeks here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056059030

... shutting things down for the two weeks (the instruction from the PT examination) and running Dublin is not a serious option.

(Thanks to all for the responses, btw,- they've definitely changed my mind on that plan - especially RQ, Brianderunner, neilc, runforest and plodder - sorry for dredging up bad memories but good to get first hand experience. )

Leg has improved beyond my wildest hopes. I can still feel it when walking but just as a niggle - there is no longer any pain. I would have bitten your arm off if you had offered me this Sunday/Monday. Good enough to try out 30 mins on the stationary bike this morning. Got through that with no problem.

Back from the second PT session ( I have six scheduled before the flight). From a massage and hands on look today they have found nothing to suggest damage. Given this and the improvement since Sunday they are now thinking it might simply be a very nasty muscle "spasm". This makes some degree of sense to me. Usually I am pretty obsessive about race prep, but was much more casual on Sunday and forgot to take my usual pre race electrolytes. Combined with no warmup and a 1.5 mile climb at mile 7-8 ...

So .... I am planning to continue to RHCE (H = heat!) and ease back into running. This is all subject to how I feel. Possibly a trip to the gym tonight to do 1 slow mile, access the situation and if all is good maybe another 2 miles.
If all is good then I will look at resuming the P&D plan tomorrow morning - maybe 3-6 miles.
If all is still well and the leg gets through this and continues to improve maybe a try a couple of strides on Saturday, and some type of MLR on Sunday - but it's way to early to be deciding this.

3.15 remains the target ... but may soften to 3.30 depending on how things go.

RacoonQueen

Nice to see someone get some good news. Look after yourself though, don't push it, just make it to that start line in one piece.

plodder

Good news! Take it easy though. No point in risking it flare up again!

Krusty_Clown

Yay! Sounds like it was quite the scare. How long have you got between arriving in Dublin and the race? Like others have said, please take it handy until race day. There is no further gain in fitness, just an easy maintenance to be had.

pgmcpq

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Nice to see someone get some good news. Look after yourself though, don't push it, just make it to that start line in one piece.

plodder wrote: »

Good news! Take it easy though. No point in risking it flare up again!

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Yay! Sounds like it was quite the scare. How long have you got between arriving in Dublin and the race? Like others have said, please take it handy until race day. There is no further gain in fitness, just an easy maintenance to be had.

Thanks guys. I am not quite out of trouble yet, but it looks a whole lot more promising than it did on Sunday. Weird problem.... but I'll take it.

Ideally I'd like to ease back in slowly this week and if all holds up get back on the taper schedule by the weekend. Strides are probably the big danger. Too ambitious ? My thinking is that if it is going to flare up again I'd rather know my limits early - before Fosters Avenue !

Arriving Saturday morning (hopefully!). Might do the breakfast run on Sunday ......

menoscemo

When I had the groin issue, it was the strides and VO2 max session that aggravated it. I know it's not the same injury but if you insist on doing any running before dublin, take it easy at first and if feeling ok, maybe build up to MP?

ronanmac

Fantastic news! 3:15, and hang on for dear life! (at least that's my strategy ).

pgmcpq

menoscemo wrote: »

When I had the groin issue, it was the strides and VO2 max session that aggravated it. I know it's not the same injury ....

Yeah but also you injury occured during a VO2 session iirc.

menoscemo wrote: »

... but if you insist on doing any running before dublin, ....

Add "young man" to the end to that and I'll feel like I'm back in secondary school again . Seriously - I explored the outcome of no running on the thread in the main forum linked in an earlier entry here and it basically is not really a serious option. I'm not going to run Dublin "to get around".

In any event - running at all is still highly questionable ....

....turns out the good news tiding were a little premature.

Bought a pair of compression socks last night ( look like I'm 6 years old again! ). Did a gentle 4 mile run last night and within the first few steps I knew the problem was still there. Problem is not severe and it did not get any worse later in the run - if anything it got better. But after the run the leg was quite sore. This morning the leg is not bad but maybe a little worse than it was yesterday. So running is still a problem ... with a week and a half to go ....

Did 50 minutes on the stationary bike this morning (this does not seem to cause any problem).

As I wrote in an email this morning "We're 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go, Duff is off injured and we pumping high balls into the box". The only realistic option I see is to determine that no further damage would be done by running. If so it becomes an issue of pain management.

I'm going to hold off updating the log here until I know something definite or reach a decision (probably this weekend) ... I'm doing my head in a bit muilling the options. Meanwhile I am looking at November marathons still open. Richmond, Virginia on Nov 13th looks like an option - probaby too late for Boston 2011 but if Dublin is gone, Boston goes with it.

pgmcpq

Friday: AM: PT in the morning.
PM: An hour on the stationary bike

Saturday: 5 miles w 6*100 strides.

Calf is doing better but the muscles around it are giving me trouble. In particular the top of the foot feels as if the shoe it tied to tight. Definitely feeling the effects of the layoff this week.

Sunday: 10 miles.

Finally able to walk downstairs without pain. Intended doing 5-6miles. First few miles were horrible - foot problem and aches in the muscles surrounding the injury. But after a few miles and consciously trying to relax the leg and foot it started to come together and by the end I was running relatively pain free. I made be messing up my stride by unwittingly compensating for the the calf problem. Pretty pleased with the way the run ended.

19 miles for the week !

Monday: Still getting twinges. So back to the bike for another hour again.

Hard to know where I am at this stage. Probably 50/50 for Monday - it is a race against time now. Not feeling confident - the decision to run will probably not be made until the day before.
I have a backup race selected (Harrisburg, PA) but would be doing this race with a mini-taper (one week) if necessary.

pgmcpq

Monday : PT and 1 hour on the stationary bike

Tuesday: Core

Wednesday: PT, 6 miles w/2 @ PMP

Easing back into the program. Calf felt ok so decided to do the PMP miles. I feel like I have lost a little - the PMP miles felt harder than they should but this may be normal "taperitus".

Thursday: 5 miles recovery w/4*100

Still feeling ok. Probably did this a little too fast - not looking at the Garmin too much trying (and failing!) not the focus on the calf ! Again since the calf seemed ok I decided to finish with some strides. Began gingerly but the calf does seem to be holding.

Felt fine during the run but there is a bit niggle afterwards. Hard to know what the overall outlook is. Calf seems to be making progress but then other times it seems to flare up a little without any provocation. Every burst of optimism is followed by an "oh no". Still I am getting a few miles in so I am leaning towards running and holding to the original 3.15 goal... maybe fading to 3.20.

pgmcpq

Friday: 5 miles w6*100m

Final PT session this morning. Strain is still there. The guy working on me this morning found it pretty quickly. But it is much much better. Run felt good -though as ever at this stage was wishing for it to be over.

To the airport in a few hours so ...

good luck to all running Dublin and thanks to all who've chipped in with encouragement and advice (even if I was too thick to always take it!)

RubyK

Glad all went well with the physio pgmcpq! Best of luck for Monday

Krusty_Clown

pgmcpq wrote: »

Friday: 5 miles w6*100m

Final PT session this morning. Strain is still there. The guy working on me this morning found it pretty quickly. But it is much much better. Run felt good -though as ever at this stage was wishing for it to be over.

To the airport in a few hours so ...

good luck to all running Dublin and thanks to all who've chipped in with encouragement and advice (even if I was too thick to always take it!)

Have a safe trip. Glad to hear that the injury is on the road to improvement. Hopefully everything will be ok on the day.

ronanmac

Best of luck, pgmcpq. See you at the start, I should recognise you from all those photos from races along the east coast of America!

actwithoutwords

Best of luck pgmpcq, and have a great trip.

RacoonQueen

Best of luck tomorrow. Enjoy it, if you feel good - go for it. You've enough training and experience to know whether you feel right to go for it. Everythings done, relax and you'll breeze through it. Hope to see you after the race at some point.

Slogger Jogger

+1. Best of luck tomorrow.