Darn it! I missed the speed, again. This is frustrating. I did the run, but my average speed was 5.3 mph, not 5.4 mph, like my training schedule prescribed. However, I do have to give myself somewhat of a break because I went out dressed for an early-morning winter run, but had lost track of the fact that I didn’t really get up early, so the sun was already out and I didn’t really need all the gear I had on, so I had to stop a number of times, to remove gear and secure it to myself somehow, so I could continue running in a little more comfort. I had to take off my gloves, a sweatshirt, a pair of sweat pants, an ear-warmer, and, consequently, my hat because the ear-warmer was essentially holding the cap on. And, of course, none of these took place at the same time, so that was 5 separate maneuvers, one of which required me to remove my shoes, so I certainly lost some time there.

I will need to figure out what I’m gonna do on Marathon Day with regard to all my gear and clothing, too. I guess the ‘real’ runners just strip down to a little running outfit rather quickly, then run, then put on more clothes at the end of the race. I’m just too much of a wimp for that, and besides that, I warm up too slowly. Takes me a mile to lose my gloves most days, another 3 or 4 to lose the sweatshirt, another 3 or 4 for a pair of overpants, and then I’m usually ready for the earwarmer to go, too. Well, that’s like 10 miles or so. On Marathon Day, I’ll have another 16 miles to run AFTER that and do I want to run 16 miles with half a dozen pieces of clothing tied to me or do I want to wear throw-away clothes on Marathon Day and toss them to the curb for charity pick-up like most people do?

Problem is that I’m so frugal, I hate to just throw clothing away, but I think I probably should just do that. I should wear a pair of old, crummy sweatpants (which, of course, are the most comfortable, and, consequently, my favorite) and then just toss ’em when the time comes. However, I will need to remove my shoes to get ’em off. Or, maybe I’ll just cut them before race day so they will come off over my shoes. Yeah, that’s probably what I’ll do, depending on how actually cold it is on race day.

Now, as for a sweatshirt, which of my snuggly, warm, old, gruzzy sweatshirts am I going to be willing to part with? Probably a yucky one that doesn’t fit right to begin with. So, do I want to be standing there, at the Starting Line, in a yucky old sweatshirt that doesn’t fit? Oh, this is maddening! And, what about wearing something to commemmorate my dad? I have several tee-shirts that would do the trick, but now that I’ve been running for several years, and have broken down and bought some of the expensive ‘real runner’ clothing, I have come to understand that it is worth every penny and that actual athletic gear is so much more comfortable to run in than a cotton Harley shirt.

So, then I think of my dad and how he wore ‘the costume’ to be a Harley biker and although it looked cool, it was also functional. I think I can honor him by wearing ‘the costume’ of a real runner and to look cool while I run, while enjoying the function of technical running gear. So, I think that settles that. I’ll wear running tights for warmth and comfort and my RnRAZ long-sleeved running shirt for not holding sweat, and I’ll chop up a pair of the sweatpants that I got free with cigarettes a couple of decades ago and I’ll throw ’em to the curb when the time comes, and I still don’t know what I’ll do for a sweatshirt. I’ll have to keep thinking on that.

Jon did let me buy the paper pants and jacket they sell at the expo and if the weather is such that I could get away with wearing just that, I think that’s what I should wear at the start and then just really rip those off and throw them away. I used them once in the past and the pants totally ripped before the race even started, but I’m thinner this year than I was that year, so that may not happen. Maybe I’ll decorate them with loving messages about my dad and that can be therapeutic. I guess I better try them on one of these cold mornings and see if they’ll really keep me warm enough.

Or, maybe I should just brace myself for just being cold for the first many miles of the Marathon. Hmmm. As soon as I said that, I didn’t like it. No, I think I’m gonna go for the real clothes and just throw them away.

Now, do I bring my water with me or not? It’s certainly easier to drink from a straw than from a cup when you are running, so that argues for bringing it. However, it is something to carry for 26 miles and my pack is so old and beat up that it is duct taped and my hair gets stuck to it and I seriously should just go without. Yes, this is about streamlining. No Camelback.

Now, for food. I think there is one gel station on the course, but I’ll probably want food at least once more, if not twice. I can’t eat so much before the race or I’ll be uncomfortable running with a full stomach, so I think I’ll stick a gel in the pocket of my running tights and call that good enough. But, I don’t want to ‘bonk,’ which is to just lose all your energy and be unable to continue.

Fear. Fear. Fear. It’s a freaking marathon, it’s not supposed to be easy! I’ll take two gels and that will be enough. Along with the one I’ll get on the course and the food that’s available afterwards, I will be fine. Two gels, no water, throw-away clothes. It’s decided.

Now, what about my hat and my earphones? As it is now, I have an ear-warmer that holds my hat on and keeps my earphones from flopping around too much. I suppose that could be replaced by a bandana and that would be less hot. It could be a Harley bandana and that can be how I take my dad with me, I guess. I wonder if I have a Harley bandana. How can I not? I know I have a plain blue bandana I got for the breast cancer 3-day walk and that that would match better. Back to vanity. It’s a Marathon, not a beauty contest. How ’bout I’ll wear whichever one I can find? Sounds good, but I better try it out on a run, not do experiments on race day, so I’ll try that one of these days coming up.

I think I’m just about ready. I feel strong and well and there are only 3 weeks ’till the race. I’ll have one more really long run, but I’m also already doing some tapering to get rested up for the big day!