Three more days to go!

Time has passed since my last post and it always seems a drag to update my blog...

As the title mentions, I am three days away from Oakland marathon and I monitor daily the weather forecast that do not look promising. It has been going back and forth between overcast to rain and this will be most likely the final word on what the weather will be for this event. I will just chill and see on Saturday after the expo how I will dress for the race.

In the past 5 weeks, I went through the largest mileage of my training to currently the lowest and the only thing I can say is that I had a blast. I did not miss a single training (223 miles in February - even higher than my record in January - and 117 this month, mostly due to the tapering). My last 20 mile long run was on the marathon course as part of a practice run organized by Oakland marathon race director. The run went very well and it gave me a good idea of what to expect. It went so well that I was on pace for a 3:24 marathon... All specific speed sessions and "marathon pace" were also very conclusive and many of them represent PRs compared to races done last year - I need to run an official flat 5k, 10k and half-marathon to demonstrate it though... They are a huge confidence booster no matter what! The only shadow in the picture is that I twisted my left ankle 10 days ago, but there was no permanent damage. I am currently enjoying the tapering and taking it very easy, knowing that the preparation has already been done in the past 17 weeks. I just need fresh and light legs for this Sunday.

I have not been sick for past 3 months outside of a very light cold and I am trying to not catch anything from my daughter who is taking antibiotics for a small infection in her right lung (pneumonia). We usually catch everything that the children get... So, I cross my fingers!

These past few weeks gave me the opportunity to volunteer with Brazen Racing and Inside Trail Racing at three different occasions. It gave me a new way to look at races and what it takes to make it happen.

Tending an aid station with Patrick McKenna for Inside Trail Racing at Lake Chabot- Courtesy of Allen (even runners take pictures of volunteers!)

It is so different from just showing up for the race. This is phenomenal and I think runners have really the easy job in the overall picture. Remember to thank volunteers when you pass by aid stations, even if you do not plan to stop. Most of them are runners themselves and understand what it takes to motivate you and to tend to your needs. If you have a chance, do not hesitate to participate. Volunteers are the lifeblood of many of these events. I will do more of it for sure.

Back to this week, I tried to stay focus on this Sunday event, but with the very light training in the past 10 days, my mind has already shifted to Ohlone 50k in May and the 8 weeks in between where I am going to resume swimming and biking as part of my cross-training, but also the preparation for my first triathlon in June. There is no real expectation there, my only goal is to finish these Olympic triathlon which should not be an issue and to learn. It is only scheduled for end of June, but I figured out that it will help with my preparation for Ohlone 50k to strengthen the core.

May 20 will be for sure a memorable day! It will be my first ultra-marathon and not an easy one (7800 ft elevation gain/7500 ft elevation loss). And on the same day, there will be a total eclipse of the sun (90% in the Bay Area) at the end of the afternoon. I can't wait!

Concerning the training for that first Ultra, I am going to have a lot of up and down running and I am planning to run multiple times on sections of the course. I already purchased my "Ohlone Wilderness permit" and I am all set to explore this area. To add a little bit of spice to the process, I will be racing two shorter distances in between (one half-marathon and one 10k) as training sessions.

That 's it for now. I will be back soon for my report on Oakland marathon.
Happy running!