My bags are packed. I’m ready to go.

My belief is that you should maintain a state of race readiness.  While my training has not been as focused on the American Discovery Trail Marathon as it was for the Platte River ½ and Colfax Marathon this spring, I have been training with the expectation of running a fall marathon.

Since the Colfax Marathon on May 19th I have run 876 miles.  That is an average of ~46 miles per week or ~11.5 miles each day I run.  I have also swum 225,000 yards which is about 127 miles.  That is an average of ~11,830 yards per week and ~4,165 yards per workout.  I have rested four days.  In short, I’ve been training fairly hard.

Periodically I record my waking resting pulse rate.  My normal waking resting pulse rate is ~42 BPM.  If I am really sick or tired, my pulse moves up to ~50 BPM.  If I am rested, it is ~40 BPM.  My resting pulse rate on Friday was 38 BPM.  That means I am very well rested.  Will it translate into speed or endurance or stamina?  We’ll find out on Monday.  But it gives me a lot of confidence going into Monday’s race.

In preparation for Monday’s marathon I thought it would be a good idea to do an inventory of my race bag.  Here goes:

Running shoes – New Balance MT110

Race shorts

Race singlet – Practical Coaching Singlet

Spare singlet

Spare shorts

2 pairs of socks

Garmin Forerunner 205

Cinch sack for drop bag

Compression sleeve – in case of muscle tear

Ratty T-shirt to wear to keep warm before the start

Clean T-shirt to wear after the race

Copy of registration receipt

Race instructions

Cap

Sun screen

Sun glasses

Rash Guard body lube – to keep the parts from chafing

Toilet paper – the last time I ran this race there weren’t enough Porta Potties

Ventolin inhaler

Energy gels – I think I’m only going to carry 2 during the race

Cliff Bar

Water bottle

And what about the mental / emotional baggage we carry to races?  There is also an emotional inventory I perform as I get ready for the race.  The purpose is to crowd out the negative thoughts.

To become the best athlete you can be you must be motivated to do what it takes to maximize your ability.  What is the best motivator for athletic performance?  Is it anger or fear or greed or adulation or love?  Beyond the pithy sayings, there must be something of meaning that leads or drives or chases or haunts you.  Otherwise you wouldn’t make the commitment. 

There are intrinsic rewards – the feelings, like pride and enjoyment - which you get from performing well.

There is extrinsic motivation – tangible and intangible rewards like medals, money (gift cards) praise and recognition.  These are not more important than competing well, but are the by-product of your focused effort. 

I’ve got a bag full of motivation for this race and I’m sure I’ll be pulling everything out of it on Monday.