One week more: Runners’ Open Thread

I did my last “long run” (just 8+ miles, but longer than what I’ve been allowed recently, at least) today. Bill (from running club) already scolded me, but I have to confess to having done this run at too fast a pace, like yesterday. Again, sub-8-minute miles. Like yesterday, though, it wasn’t intentional – just sort of happened. Unlike yesterday, this time I actually did check my Garmin to keep tabs on it, but I somehow lost the ability to, um, math. I divided grossly incorrectly and came to the conclusion that I was dragging, so I bumped things up even further. Never had any pain, aches, stitches, or exhaustion, though, so all’s good. (You guys read the except from Once a Runner that was in “Runner’s World”? I haven’t read the book, but that segment about the interval workout from hell made me want to, even as I cringed for about an hour without stopping.)

Anyway, three more runs before the race. I’m to do three miles tomorrow, four on Tuesday, two on Friday, and then…dun-dun-DUN! Still trying to decide: skirt or shorts? I’ve test-run both, and they both fit and feel comfortable. I’ll wear a short-sleeved top with either, have a toss-away jacket or sweatshirt from Goodwill, and I’m thinking about trying to find some knee-high socks to transform into cheap arm warmers. The weather forecast is waffling between clouds and rain, and I’m playing with how to deal with things if it rains for thirty minutes at the start and then turns sunny and humid.

Seems like everybody’s racing right now! Anybody have any reports?

Tonight we’re going over to eat dinner with the family of a coworker of Eric’s. They have two sons about the same ages as Sam and Gabe, so it should be fun and casual. It’ll definitely be a nice way to spend the last evening with Eric before putting him on a plane (well, in a car with a friend on the way to the airport) tomorrow morning.