What To Pack for the Marathon

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Every few minutes my brain sends me "Oh! Don't forget to bring..." message. Figure I better start tracking them or I'll forget. Okay, Richmond, here I come. Remember the alphabet game you used to play as a kid? (I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an apple. I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an apple and a banana...). Here's the adult version:

I'm going to run a marathon, and I'm going to take...

  • 3 packs of GU - 1 chocolate, 2 plain
  • Enough Advil to choke a small camel
  • Tagamet
  • Extra contacts
  • 1 Ipod (charged)
  • 1 pair gloves
  • 2 pair running shoes in case the first pair--I don't know--goes up in flames
  • 3 pair running socks (again--fire back up)
  • 2 pair running shorts (are we sensing a theme here?)
  • 2 throw away long-sleeved t-shirts
  • 2-3 running shirts of varying thickness and arm length, so I'm prepared for any temperature
  • Running watch
  • Runner's ID
  • Pace tatoo
  • 2 jog bra's
  • Vaseline. (Interesting side note. I forgot to buy Body Glide before my first race and so used vasoline instead. As with most runners, I'm superstitious and refuse to change any details in my routine, so vasoline it is)
  • Sunglasses
  • Tissue
  • Runner's hat
  • Hair combs, hair bands, bandana, and winter runner's earmuff/headband thingee
  • Hotel and race confirmation numbers
  • Phone numbers of all my friends running/attending Richmond

Here's where it gets interesting. "Routine" morphs into "paranoia"...

  • 1 Toaster with whole grain bread and honey (my traditional race breakfast)
  • Coffee and coffemaker (check first to see if hotel has in room)
  • BACK UP pasta dinner I will bring in a cooler in case things go awry for any reason on Friday night dinner

I'm sure I'll add to the list as the week goes on. Runner folk--what am I missing??

John Irving, Road Trips, Painting, and MORE PROTEIN

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It's been a busy few days and instead of blogging about events as they happen, I let them slide and now my brain is a mish-mash of "meant to blog about it" entries that--due to writer exhaustion--will be shortened to soundbite blurbs:

  • John  Irving. Went to the hear Mr. Irving, one of the most talented writers of our time, speak at UNCG Thursday night. He asked for questions and in about 30 minutes managed to answer only 4, because every answer turned into a story. No one minded. Listening to him speak was a treat. I left feeling inspired, both about writing and life. Yet another reminder that there are books, ideas, and thoughts right in front of us just waiting to be discovered, if only we'd turn off the TV, ignore the e-mails, and participate more fully in life. 
  • Road Trips. Blair and I ventured to Lynchburg this weekend, for the official book launch for our friend Edmund Schubert's book, Dreaming Creek. Ed's parents hosted us in their stunning home in the VA mountains, and this morning we went for a brisk walk with Dora the adorable German Sherpard to tour the fields, streams, and rocks. Came back inside for homemade waffles and hot coffee. Color me happy.
  • Painting. However, we did not linger in Lynchburg because household chores called to us. We came home and raked the front yard, then tackled the front bedroom, which once it's painted will be known as my writer's room. Took both of us working together for almost 4 hours to get the room primed. I love our 100+ year old home, but there is an ungodly amount of window, floor, ceiling, and door trim. Blair and I are showered, but still picking primer paint off our hands.
  • MORE PROTEIN. Did my last long run on Saturday. Felt sluggish, as I had when I ran 5 miles on Thursday. The last time this happened I added protein to my diet and instantly felt better. With the marathon on Saturday, every precaution must be taken to ensure perfect health. Starting to freak out. 

I have a lot of work to do this week, but am going to get plenty of rest, hydrate, and freebase protein every chance I get.

It's 8 AM - Do You Know Where Your Child Is?

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I got a phone call Wednesday morning from my friend, Trisha. Like me, she was suffering a non-alcohol induced "election hang-over" and had decided that she was going to splurge and treat herself to a $5 Starbucks coffee.

She walks in the door and who is standing at the front counter but her 11-year-old son and his friend, who had set out for school on their bikes ten minutes earlier.

"Uh, hello?" said Trish. "What do you think you're doing here?"

Getting hot chocolate was the answer. She sent them off to school and turned to the lady working the counter. "How often are they in here?" she asked.

"Oh, probably 3, maybe 4 times a week," came the reply.

Like me, Trisha's first question was where was he getting the money for this? "I don't drink Starbucks 3-4 times a week because I can't afford it," she said. Apparently her son has a major caffeine-money hook-up. Which leads to problem #2.

"I'm raising an addict," said Trisha.

I think it's funny. You think you know your kids, who they are, what they do... and they are always full of surprises.