Here's a picture from mile 6.5:
We're nearing the finish of the second - and hardest - cycle of our training. The first cycle of our training began on June 15 with a 27-mile week. The first cycle of training is to build mileage, and when we finished that cycle on September 6, we were up to 48-mile weeks (and 24 miles at a time). Then we got an "easy" week of "only" 34 miles. The second cycle of our training started on September 15 with a 55-mile week. The second cycle is for even higher mileage, and also building strength and speed. That cycle ends next week, when we'll run a total of 68 miles - the most I've ever run in a week! Then we get a week of "rest," during which get another "light" week of 34 miles.
Beginning on October 20, we're back up to 50- and 55-mile weeks for three more weeks - our final race preparation, when we focus on technique and work out any aches, pains, and other worries. Then we "taper" our training starting on November 2. We run less and less, until the week before the race, when we run only 25 miles.
It may sound funny, but during the taper, your legs really miss running. They tingle and tickle. They want to be USED. Your legs fill with energy. When you finally set them on the race course you've prepared for, they are at peak energy levels, peak strength, peak everything. They want to run. And when you start the race, your legs just carry you away, doing everything you've trained them to do. You may not want to run 50 miles, but your legs DO!
Well, that's what we hope for! Munda provides inspiration for our minds; training provides the rest.
Oh - and lots of food and water. Here's a water stop (which we set up in the back of Ray's truck, and circle back to it as needed):
We stock the cooler with water and protein shakes, and we also keep on hand pretzels, bananas, a delightful sports food called "goo" (more on that later), protein bars, and more - gummi bears, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, peppermint patties, and anything else that strikes us as yummi!
