Fall 50 Weekend

It's Fall 50 Weekend!  Hard to believe.  It's snuck up on me this year, and I find myself going a little crazy trying to figure out what to do first to prepare.  Aside from actually packing for the race, it doesn't help that I need to clean up from a certain birthday celebration that took place last night, I am in the middle of a school fundraiser that has to be sorted out, and I have scheduled a haircut for this afternoon.  Ugh!  What to do first?

I really can't wait to do the Fall 50.....eight hours (at least!) on the road with three other gals, taking turns covering 50 miles from the tip of Door County, Wisconsin, to Sturgeon Bay.  All that followed by a fantabulous party in the park.  This will be the fifth year I have done this race, but it's the first time with a completely new crew.  The past four years - while we've had people come in and out - we always had the same core members.  This year, though, the core members wanted to do something different - myself included.  After being on a team last year of all guys - except for me - I thought it might be fun to be on an all-girls team.  So, this year I am on a team with three other ladies - so not even a five-person team!  We've only got four.  I will be running two legs, adding up to 12 miles or so. The first leg will have a couple of hill challenges in them; the second is relatively tame.  

It's a good thing our team is not out for any awards, because I don't think I can run my two legs too fast.  In fact, I am guessing my average time will be way under what I optimistically entered when I registered six months ago.  (I was running much faster then.)  Aside from lack of speed, I just don't know what my hamstring is doing.  It's been twinging off and on the past month or so - some days fine, some days not so fine.  After the 12-miler on the treadmill last Sunday and then an unplanned 6.5-miles of hills on Wednesday, it's been really touchy the past day and a half.  I am hoping by tomorrow it will be good again.  I had a running evaluation done on Tuesday and started some exercises based on the results, so I know that is adding to its discomfort a bit as well.

My hope is to get through the relay tomorrow gracefully, and then I will take a glorious three days off of running to really rest and see how things go from there.  It might be time for some more serious intervention if I don't start feeling like things are improving by then.  

So, things I could do to get the hamstring back in order:

• Get a running evaluation done - Check!
• Start strength and stretching routine again - Check!
• Get a massage - Not yet
• See a PT - Not yet
• See the chiro lady again - Not yet
• Take time off from running - Not going to happen if I can help it

Speaking of PTs, I am a little bummed because two of my favorite PTs were doing free evaluations last night at two different locations.  I unfortunately missed out because we were celebrating Hubby's birthday.  Of course, the celebration was worth it!  (But I do sort of wish I could have gotten the free eval.)

Next time.  In the meantime, I have the memory of the delicious lemon cheesecake that I somehow managed to make.  I don't know how I managed it, but it turned out really good.

Happy Running!