You know what’s not ideal? A New Orleans-style boozefest, ahem, business trip in the days leading up to a PR-attempt race. While it was a really great trip, from both a business perspective and the fun-factor, I am certain that the last 3 days have not prepared me to race my best on Saturday. Let’s recap:
Monday – Wake up at a ridiculously early hour that I usually reserve for only sleeping or running. Travel to New Orleans, with pre-packed snacks of grapes, berries and a banana. Track down a veggie-filled Subway sandwich for lunch and then have a great all-afternoon meeting, followed directly by dinner at Drago’s. Two glasses of wine, grilled fish with green beans and bed time at 9:00 p.m. (At least I started with the best intentions.)
Tuesday – 6 horrible, awful miles on the gym dreadmill. Death to the TM, but safety first!
All-day meetings/work stuff followed by 5 p.m. happy hour reception, shortly followed by dinner with craft beers and capped off with a looonng evening hopping from bar-to-bar on Bourbon St. In pouring rain. And 4″ heels. Dancing and drinking lasted well into the early morning hours and I finally stumbled to my room between 4 and 5 a.m.
The “must-have” sickenly sweet hurricane
Wednesday – Wake up at 7:55. Pace around my hotel room a little to get the blood flowing and dial in to 2-hour teleconference starting at 8. It was blurry, but I am pretty impressed with my performance (i.e. I stayed awake). Forgo nap for 40 minutes on the elliptical and some upper body strength. Stuff poor, swollen, blistered feet back into work shoes (flats this time) and proceed to walk every aisle of the trade show for the next 5 hours. Finish the work day with yet another happy hour (including 2 glasses of wine and a fantastic client meeting!). Dinner, with more wine and beer, followed by low-key drinks with long-time business friends. Avoid Bourbon St. and go to bed at the oh-so-early-hour of midnight-ish.
Thursday – Wake up at 7:30 feeling surprisingly refreshed. Travel home. Skip planned run. Begin recoup with naps on plane and lots of ass on couch.
So, what do you think? All things you would recommend before attempting to run an already challenging, stupid-fast (for me) time in 13.1 miles on Saturday?
I am not making excuses. If I don’t run as fast as I hope on Saturday, it will be my own fault and my own doing. Could I have been responsible and skipped the especially late night of partying? Of course. But in my new position at work I haven’t seen many of the colleagues that I was spending time with in months or in some cases, years. I really, really miss them and I wouldn’t trade the fun that we had and the stories we created for anything. Not even a much-desired PR. There will be other races.
I am all packed and getting Nuun-ed up though and I am ready and excited to run! We are leaving tomorrow morning around 9 and hopefully I will be squealing excitedly and eating lunch with Elizabeth by noon!
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend! Especially Jess and Steph in Rohoboth and Ali in Dallas!
