Staying Positive

Surprisingly with tomorrow being race day I am not stressing out, I don't have butterflies I am not obsessively going over what I need to bring (yet) I am just relaxing and enjoying this beautiful sunny day. I am calm which is a surprise....does this mean something is off? Should I be concerned?

Nope I am not off, my body feels good not great but good. Over the past 2 weeks I have been seeing Lily from Massage by Lily and she has been working on my trouble areas. Notice the plural for areas. It is not just one area but a few. My rib injury appears to have returned. Not good, but the good news is when I noticed it a month go I decreased by training miles and focused on quality over quantity and I allowed my body to rest. Huge change for me! Maybe I am learning.

Anyways, she has been working on me and getting me physically ready for tomorrows Way Too Cool 50k. It has been a painful process and a few tears were had by me on the table with the occasional reflex to hit and the begging to please stop. But it has helped and I am grateful for all the she has done for me.

I am excited as this is the first race for me this year. I am excited to see how my body will do as I know the training miles are there. I am excited for my fellow group members and the Fleet Feet Ultra Racing Team. I wish everyone a good strong race.

I have also been working on the mental aspect of running an ultra. I have been focusing on positive thoughts, mental imagery, seeing myself climb those hill overcoming and proper fueling and hydrating during the race. I keep replaying my past training runs and how my body had felt and what I can do differently, I have been reading my past race reports and learning from them. Ok so maybe I am obsessing a little bit, but that is better then thinking negative thoughts. Staying positive will go a long ways on the trail tomorrow.

This week has been a bit stressful at work. I had to make the announcement to my overnight team that we will be going to a day side process in a little under 8 weeks. Which means the process starts at 4am and I will have to be there at 3:30 am. I am having mixed feelings on this change, but that is with any change. I like routine and this will completely through me for a loop. But I am trying to remain positive and keep a smile on my face as I share the information with my team. How does this effect me you might be thinking? Will, like I said I will be reporting to work at 3:30 am. I will also be working 5 days now instead of 4 nights and I will be going on a weekend rotation. With every other weekend off. Change, Change, Change! That is what this year is looking like. So maybe that is why I have been putting in the extra energy into Saturday's race and I am ok with that. I guess I should keep telling myself if I can run 50 miles then I survive this change. I just wonder how that will effect my work, life, balance. I guess only time will tell.

Here is to the first race of the season, keeping positive thoughts and to remember just keep running forward! Have a great day everyone and good luck to all the participants of the Way Too Cool 50k and on Sunday the Shamrockin half marathon! Enjoy the trails!