D-day is close!

Ok, so I am packing since I am leaving town for Stockholm a day before the race to get my number and check out the area for the start. Yes, it is a mix of lessening the stress in the morning on Saturday but some degree of nervousness too of course.

But all in all, I am prepared in the best way I think during the circumstances and I am looking forward to the race. In the end I think I have realised (hopefully) that it is mainly about completing it and I can do that with running as usual half the way and walking quickly for the other half and still make descent time. Anyway, the most inportant is in place!

I start in the first group on saturday the 2'd of June at 12.00am! Sned me some happy, energized thoughts! =o)

Asics Stockholm Marathon

It is really getting close to the Asics Stockholm Marathon now and I can really feel it in my body! I took all the instructions etc to bed to read up once again and there came a flutter to my heart. I think it is a good thing to be a little nervous, it makes you focus that little extra. I think also I finally found out how to mentally prepare for Saturday in light of my not having been able to run for three weeks now (being four on Saturday) and that takes a little of the pressure off.

Some people have asked me if I shouldn't just skip the race due to the tendon but I have been preparing for this for almost two years of sorts and it is hard to step down, nigh impossible. So I keep preparing and figured I run until it breaks or I complete the run... But that is naturally not the entire truth since that would be bad for the future but I will however start the race as if to make it on my goal time of 3h330min and then adjust as I go, but still keep pressing myself to the utmost of my ability. It will be hard but nothing is impossible! I have talked about keeping focused before and this is how I do it. Keep focus and push yourself hard but sensible. That being said I begin my carbohydrate loading tomorrow... I guess it will not be very funny stepping up on the scale on Friday morning, or evening for that matter. But I did prepare some before and after pictures (after coming up ofc) since I was asked by friends to do so, and who am I to refuse, hehe. Carbohydrate loading means that you fill up, try to maximize, your depots of glycogen. It is rather common to do for endurance athletes. It will be the first time I do it and it is quite exciting to see the results.

The carbohydrate loading will consist of regular eating plus Vitargo carboloader (twice a day) and on Friday I swap one for Vitargo Electrolyte which has a lot of minerals in it plus carbs and it is supposed to be pro active towards cramp in the race. On the day of the race I will eat a regular breakfast and another electrolyte. I will bring some energy gel for the race to add on top of what I get time to drink on track and also a bar of energy just a short time before the race. I tried a gel from Maxim (the brand they use on track for energy drinks) this weekend to try my stomach, and it worked well. All in all, I should be prepared in terms of energy now I just hope my tendon will hold up and allow me to race for a great time!

Here is a picture of my extra diet for the rest of the week. Oh, I should probably tell you why I will drink this... It is equivalent to eating about three kilograms of pasta or rice... This is more simple albeit more expensive.

Sunglasses

Today I got a big, albeit nice, surprise when I logged onto my account at Oakley to check on my order I placed just two evening back, they had arrived already! I knew I was kind of late in getting around to ordering a pair of sunglasses for the Stockholm Marathon (due on 2'd june). Ok, so I sit down and made the final decision on design on the colours. Going to the shopping cart I realize it may be seriously too late since it is stated on their website that it may take 5-10 bussines days to ship. In other words, I can strongly recommend shopping online from Oakley. And just having tried them on from picking them up I can tell you they fit very well and the shading is excellent.

The lens tint I ordered is 'Positive Red Iridium' which offer 15% light transmission and is suitable for medium to bright light, they also enhances contrast. The frame, Radar, is team yellow, the icons team red and the ear socks red (now seeing them I think my other option on cardinal red would have been even better even though this is not at all bad).

They are a nice addition to the cyckling gear (mentioned in the blog post A day out) but I will also use them, as mentioned, for running and they should be perfect for mountaineering too. The good thing with this brand is that it is so easy to get new lenses for whichever purpose you have. Finally I give you a picture of course!