Runner Insight

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The Day Before My Marathon – The Marathon Expo

So my marathon day 2007 was drawing near. I had put in all the hard work and dedication required in my six to seven month long marathon training program in preparation for my first marathon.  I was very excited and a bit nervous about the big day the next day.

One thing I had been looking forward to was attending the Marathon Expo.  It really turned out to be a great experience.  Not only was it fun, but it helped me to put all of my marathon training program into perspective: I was part of something far bigger than just myself.  For the most part, I had been training alone. It didn’t really feel like I was a part of something so massive until I went to the Expo. Seeing all the people at the Marathon Expo really got me hyped up…I was one of them too, I was…a marathoner!  This Expo was for me! Kind of a cool and eye-opening revelation for me.

There were all sorts of vendor booths set up at Caras Park, a beautiful park right downtown by the river.  And let me tell you, it was hot out!  We had been having record- breaking heat for the past few weeks, and the forecast for race day was for more of the same.  But the Expo was set up under the bridge, so we were mostly in the shade. 

I stood in line to get my race packet where I would find all sorts of goodies, including my race number.  Race packets are great.  I love to see what little treats are in them.  There was a pair of running socks from the Runner’s Edge, our local running store that I love to pieces! (Hi!)  There were a handful of nutritional snacks and a blister kit, along with coupons for some free stuff from different merchants around town.

Once I had my race number, I was free to wander around the Expo.  As you might imagine, I was drawn to the running clothing  And I found a nice RED sleeveless Hind running shirt.  I also bought a Missoula Marathon tank top.  Then I hit pay dirt!  A Missoula Marathon running hat!!  This was great.  It did however leave me in a quandary about my running outfit. The Missoula Marathon hat was grey. I had planned on wearing my red Runner’s Edge hat. So of course, that evening I had to try on my race day outfit and the two different hats.  In the end I decided to go with the red hat as planned. 

After wandering around the Expo, the last stop we made before heading out was to buy some cool, delicious Flathead cherries.  They are the best!  Big dark red jewels of pure delight!  They hit the spot.  A refreshing treat on a very hot 90 degree day!

The Expo served to fuel my excitement and calm my nerves…I realized that I really wasn’t alone in this 6 month long trek ending with the final 26.2 mile portion of my journey.

And the next day it would all come together…or not.

How ’bout it? 

-Vision Runner

P.S. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but if you haven’t made your $1 donation yet, you’ll want to do so today. Because everyone who donates through today (Friday June 12) will be put into the drawing for the free pair of Runner’s Edge running socks! So get your donation in today!! Hurry, hurry! Just go to www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner or click on the Donate button on the green and purple FirstGiving widget in the sidebar.  You can get the details on  my 1,222.25 mile Run Over To Ellen’s (Ellen TV Show) fundraising project by clicking here: www.RunOverToEllens.com   Thanks!!

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The Inaugural Missoula Marathon race course had been confirmed to start in Frenchtown, a small town about 12 miles northwest of Missoula.  Once the course got into Missoula, they were not quite sure what route the marathon course would take.   This being the inaugural Missoula Marathon (2007), there were some logistical issues to be resolved. 

My big question though, was would there be enough volunteers at each of the turns through town?  I had been in previous races where I was assured that there would be someone at turns to direct me since I couldn’t see the signs, but there were quite a few times that I got off the course because the turns were not manned by volunteers the way they promised. 

So we talked to Anders from The Runner’s Edge, a local running store.  He was on the board for the marathon.  He was quite confident there would be no problem with the course having enough volunteers.  But he said he would get it cleared if I wanted to have a bike rider along with me. That made me feel better.  My friend Vickie, who had ridden her bike alongside me on all my long marathon training runs, was going to be out of town the weekend of the marathon, but I did have another friend who volunteered to ride her bike with me. 

I was feeling pretty good about the run into town; that would be the majority of the miles. But it was all the turns through town that the course would take that I was concerned about. That’s where I could get lost.

A few days before the race, the course map was printed, so we drove the whole course, from start to finish.  I was feeling pretty good about it, as part of the course was on the running path I used all the time.  So I ended up deciding that a bike rider would not be necessary, since the half marathon runners would be merging with the marathon runners as we got into town.  Even if there were not enough volunteers at the turns, I was confident there would be enough runners to follow, as the total number of racers was well over 1,000. 

I considered trying to find a running group or a partner to run with, but at this late date, I simply decided to play it by ear at the race and see what developed. There would be pace runners, so if nothing else, I could fall into a group there.

Things were taking shape, and my excitement was building….one of the biggest challenges of my life was just around the corner – how would I fare? Ultimately, whether the results were good, bad or indifferent – the game was on and I was anxious to get started.

 How ’bout it?

 -Vision Runner

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Preparation For Marathon Race Day – Forget the Miles: It’s All About the Running Clothing! Really!

As the marathon day drew near, I was well into my marathon training program, and as long as I stayed healthy, there was no question – I was going to run this marathon! 

So before the cut-off date when the price to register went up, I registered for the marathon.  Now I was committed – no backing out – not that I would have, I was excited, and the excitement just kept building as I started planning what to wear for the big race.

Of course this monumental event called for a new outfit.  I knew I wanted to wear red for sure as I like red, plus there’s the psychological edge it gives to wear a fast color. But I was having trouble finding just the right pair of red shorts. It was hot, Hot, HOT in Montana that summer, and I wanted a stratus-cut for lots of ventilation.

I looked online, but was disappointed with the choices, so one afternoon I walked down to the Runner’s Edge, our local running store, and found just what I had been so desperately searching for: a pair of red Hind stratus-cut shorts.  Albeit in men’s, but that didn’t matter, as they had a size small. 

So now that I had the running shorts, I needed the right running shirt to go with it.  I found a nice blue one and I was set. I had my WrightSocks ready, and a new outfit in hand: I was stoked.

I didn’t wear my new clothes ahead of the race day, except for a short trial run.  Some runners run their long marathon training runs in the clothes they will run in on race day, so there will be no surprises as to how the garments will feel and perform – to ensure there are no unexpected seams rubbing the wrong way, etc.  But me, I bathe in the rush of new running clothes, so just a short, quick test-drive of my new race day running outfit was fine. Oh and I also got a new running hat…red, from the Runner’s Edge, too. Now I was set.

The forecast was calling for more hot weather and it ended up being one of our hottest summers on record. I thought we could find some cool neck wraps. These things are great.  We had used them the summer before, and so I knew that by soaking them in water and then putting them in the refrigerator, they get nice and cool and the refreshing coolness lasts quite a while. 

So off we went in search of neck wraps.  We found some at Wal-Mart, but when we soaked them in water they turned slimy!  Yuck!  I couldn’t wear that!  So we returned those.  We eventually found some at a sports warehouse that didn’t turn slimy. I wanted about three so that T could meet me on the road and change them out for me during the race. 

My other quandary was finding a running pocket.  I had stuff I wanted to take with me on the long run, but the little pocket in my shorts would not be big enough to hold my mints, ChapStick, energy beans, and extra battery if I decided to take my MP3 player.

I didn’t want a fanny pack as I didn’t want to deal with the bouncing of a fanny pack on my waist for 26.2 miles. So I looked in all the stores, but all I could find were cell phone cases.  I bought several of them hoping I would find the right fit, but none were what I was looking for. I even looked online, but no luck.  So I settled for a carrier a little bit larger then a cell phone case.  It was a bit bulky, but it held all the stuff I wanted to take, so it would have to do.

A year later I found the perfect running pocket by Amphipod. It was in Illinois while visiting family – right there in a local running store! I can’t seem to find it available anymore, so I’m a little afraid that they may have stopped making them.

Another last-minute buy was a pair of wrist sweat bands.  Knowing race day was going to be extremely hot, having the wrist bands would be vital to keeping sweat out of my eyes. And I was right; my hat could not keep all the sweat from running down my face as it ended up being over 90 degrees F that day!  So I got wristbands in both light blue and red, not sure which would coordinate better with my running outfit. 

Okay now you might be thinking that I was spending way too much time on what I was going to wear, more then any sane person would. But if you’ve been following my blog, you know how much I love running clothing. And for me, it’s all a part of the excitement and for sure, choosing the best running outfit is a huge motivation factor, as well.

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Just to update you on my RunOverToEllens.com 1,222.25 mile Fundraising Run, I’m over 25% of the way to Burbank, California. We’re having a drawing for anyone who’s donated at least $1 by Friday June 12. The winner will receive a free pair of Runner’s Edge running socks. Don’t fret if you’re not a runner, they work for walking or sitting, too.   So get your donations in by Friday! Just go to the secure website at www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner . Or you can click on the FirstGiving widget in the sidebar. Thanks a lot!

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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