So I received the final email from the race committee last night advising us about the weather and the fact that the we need to stay hydrated during the race. The race-start temperature is expected to be around 60, with highs around 80 by early afternoon, so it will be a struggle. I’m not sure if I should take my own additional hydration on top of what they will provide on the course, its going to be a night before call I think …

Its been a struggle staying focused on the race right now, and since I haven’t run since Wednesday morning, i’ve got that feeling of ‘well what if my body forgot how to run???’ .. well, we all know that won’t happen, I believe the training will pay off. I went back on my schedule and noted that I did 5 20+ runs, and 4 18+ runs, so out of 18 weeks of training, half of it had a long run of over 18 milers, which I think is going to help me bust down that wall I always struggle with around mile 18, but we’ll have to see.

I’m going to head to the expo mid-day tomorrow, hopefully I can pick up a cool Steamtown shirt … theres not much more value to me there since i don’t stick around for any of the presentations and don’t really have anyone I want to talk with, its an unfortunate thing, but we’ll get in and out.

As I noted, I’ve been struggling staying focused mainly because of the job change this week, things are busy and my mind has been focused elsewhere. I think i’m settling in okay with the schedule change and all, it will be a bit of change next week when I get back into normal morning runs … this week since i’m in taper i haven’t really been in the normal routine that I would normally be in, so a change is on the horizon.

I’m doing the best I can to carb-load, although eating pizza for lunch thursday and friday can’t be a good thing. My boss took me to lunch yesterday, and we’re having pizza as a department today, so i’ve got to watch what i’m doing. We get heavy on the carb-loading tonight and all day tomorrow (nothing but carbs!). I have to start the water regime as well, i wasn’t as faithful as I think i would have liked to have been, so i have to get focused so I can perform at a top level on Sunday.

I expect to give an update sometime Saturday on my final thoughts after 18 weeks of training for the Steamtown Marathon. I was satisfied with my performance during training, and I do wish I did more focused ‘speed’ work, I did see a drop in my mile times, along with building the endurance, so I think we’ll be okay, but I guess we’ll see.