In over my head

I think I may be in over my head.

I signed up to run my first ever 100 mile race on the Tahoe Rim Trail. In less than 3 weeks (19 days!) I’ll be toeing the start line on the John L. Harvey Baseball Field in Carson City, Nevada.

I’ve trained. I’ve run long runs and intervals and hill repeats. I’ve run in the heat and the humidity. I even did a 50 mile race just two days after the last day of school (believe me when I say your body is NOT rested at that point in the school year). I completed and submitted over 8 hours of trail maintenance as a part of my official application while training, teaching, and trying to be a good mom to five kids.

But this race? It starts at 4200 ft above sea level with over 4000 ft of climbing in the first 10 miles. And that’s just the start.

I did not do those types of hill repeats.

The race is on top of a mountain with aid stations at ski resorts and where apparently a whole bunch of people drop out at night because they get hypothermia. It starts and ends in Carson City where it’s super hot. I listened to the pre-race podcast today and I kid you not, the hosts said that at MILE EIGHTY when you are descending from the mountain back into town it feels like you are being LOWERED INTO AN OVEN.

I’m not in a good place mentally, to put it mildly. Just going to REI yesterday to buy some supplies made me hyperventilate.

Colby: Do you want aluminum or carbon hiking poles that you’ve never used before?

Do you want a battery operated or USB rechargeable 3rd headlamp?

Do you want some of this Tailwind to put in your water bottles?

What about these socks that have toes?

Do you think you’ll carry your vest the whole race?

Should we get gloves for your drop bag?

Me: …

When I tell you that I’m not really into planning and preparation, you might not believe me, but you should know that at my last race, the 50 miler at Waterloo, I decided to try out my newest hydration vest. Not only did I not know how to put it on or properly secure it to myself (a friendly aid station volunteer fixed it for me properly about 10 miles in), I went to take a big drink a mere 30 minutes into the race only to realize that I HADN’T EVEN TAKEN THE PLASTIC WRAPPING OFF OF THE WATER BOTTLE NOZZLES. That’s right. I spent a fair amount of time carefully peeling the plastic back from both soft flask water bottles on the front of my pack as well as the bladder on my back. And don’t even get me started on how I’m supposed to wrangle that hose up and through the pack. After much swearing and watching the YouTube video more than once, I still can’t figure it out.

It seems I’m doing the equivalent of cramming for an a huge exam that starts at 7, only to realize at 3 am that I should’ve probably started studying earlier.

I’ll never be able to go out and acclimate to running at elevation.

I’ll never be able to go back and do hill repeats on the treadmill at a higher incline.

I feel like I’m out of my league and I’m freaking out.

I’m like the girl in my college organic chemistry class who I watched take two shots before our final exam. At the time, I could not relate. Today, I stand with her in solidarity.

Please don’t feel bad for me. I did this to myself. But please say a prayer for me out on that mountain.

Alaina