Pre-Race: SM100 Part 1

It is time for me to channel my inner Type-A over achiever triathlete and write a race plan for the Shenandoah 100. Mostly, because every race I have done in the past year or so, I have found a way to be somehow unprepared at race start by over looking something critical. I have arrived at triathlon swim starts without my wetsuit, nearly forgotten money to pay for races, and have been generally unprepared for rain. So this time, I am trying to think ahead a bit more.

The first thing I managed to think ahead on was sleeping on the ground. After my last two camping trips of barely sleeping, I decided that there is no way I can sleep on the ground all weekend without some significant change to my gear. So I finally broke down and bought a self-inflating Thermarest mat. I even threatened to practice sleeping on it at night, figuring that my new inability to sleep on the ground must have something to do with my sleeping technique. I have not yet done that, but I have been using my new Thermarest camping pillow that I only justified buying because it was on sale. Turns out, it was worth the $12 because it is the most comfortable pillow I own. Maybe that just means I need new pillows. Anyway, at least I know that my head will be comfortable the night before the race.

I don't think my bike was this clean when I bought it.

The next thing I managed to think ahead on was making sure my bike was ready to go. This has had mixed results. I bought a new saddle, took it in for a tune up, bought some new grips...and then decided to check on my tubeless tires. I got the tune up done early, but attempted the tires a little on the late side. The sealant was definitely dried up inside, but I also definitely needed an air compressor to get them back on. Which I did not have. I witnessed my boyfriend set his up with a floor pump, so I assumed that I could do the same. Turns out, I was wrong. So days before the race and my bike is back in the shop. Perfect.

Next on my to-do list is actually figuring out everything I am going to eat, and what I am going to put in my drop bags, and where I am going to put them. This is really where the race plan part comes in, because my pacing plan is simple: don't kill myself and just keep going.