Pre-Race Post

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I love doing pre-race posts!  And I haven’t written one since April 11.  There’s just something so exciting about preparing for a race, isn’t there? :)  I am SO HAPPY to be racing again — whether it is on foot or on bike!

 

I took it easy all afternoon and rested my eyeball.  It feels so much better!  Thank goodness!

 

Around 2:30 PM, I drank an Amazing Grass Chocolate Meal with water.  It’s not the most divine thing I’ve ever drank, but I really do love Amazing Grass!

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And a little later, I had tiscuits and PB:

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Then, my dad arrived at my house.  My dad and I are racing tomorrow together!  He is a really great cyclist so I’m excited to have "professional" emotional support.  :)   We decided to go carb load for dinner:

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Bella Italia is a hole-in-the-wall place, but the pasta is so good!  We ordered ours to go.  I drank some Perrier:

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And I practiced my pirate face:

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I’ve switched from the big black eye patch to less obvious nude bandage patches.  That’s because my eye isn’t so light sensitive anymore! Yay!

 

We brought our dinner home to eat:

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I had baked ziti plus some garlic rolls.

 

Carb loading is the best part of my pre-race ritual!

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After dinner, I started to prep all my supplies.  Biking requires a lot more forethought than running!

 

First up was safety gear:

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Clockwise from the top: spare tire, CO2 cartridge, copy of insurance card and license, Road ID, and gloves.

 

Especially in light of my knee injury, the inscription on my Road ID means so much to me:

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Plus, my helmet (of course!)

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Next up: FUEL!

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From left to right: electrolyte tablets, a Kashi TLC bar, a Go Lean Roll, and three pack of goo.  I’m anticipating that I will burn 2,400 calories tomorrow!!!  Thank goodness there will be fuel stops, too!

 

And water:

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I’m not wearing my CamelBak because my Dad says it isn’t "cool." Haha! He was just kidding.

 

I also sorted out the eye gear situation.  I figured there are three scenarios for tomorrow:

 

  • I wake up, my eye is better but not 100%, and I can wear my glasses (hopeful).
  • I wake up, my eye has actually gotten worse, and I must wear an eye patch on the bike (worse case scenario).
  • I wake up, my eye is miraculously cured, and I can wear contacts + sports sunglasses (unlikely).

 

In case of Scenario #1, I will be wearing this sexy combo:

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I bought clip on sunglasses from Wal-Mart this afternoon for $7.00. 

 

Or, if Scenario #2 occurs, I will be wearing 1 contact, 1 eye patch, and my regular sports sunglasses.

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PRAY FOR SCENARIO #3!

 

And lastly, my clothing:

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I’m wearing my lucky running shirt, my bike shorts, my lucky sports bra, and my sneakers.  I don’t have clip in shoes yet or a bike jersey!  And I packed a change of clothes because I am sure to be stinky after 60 miles!

 

I definitely feel prepared! I am so excited. I’m NOT focusing  negatively on my eye because seriously, life could be so much worse.  This is just a little bump in the road and, like I said earlier, it will not stop me!

 

Have a wonderful night.  See you tomorrow afternoon for a fun race day recap!

 

Edited to add:  More carb-loading! 🙂

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Alright, now I’m just making excuses to eat a lot of yummy and decadent food! LOL

{ 44 comments }

 

  • calabazapie June 13, 2009, 4:02 pm

    Good luck tomorrow! Way to have a great attitude. I'm hoping for scenario 3 for you!

  • Rachel June 13, 2009, 4:19 pm

    Good luck, Caitlin! I'm looking forward to your recap, especially since I have my own bike race coming up and I'm a newbie. You're gonna rock it!

  • Tami June 13, 2009, 4:25 pm

    when i went for my ride this morning, i was so shocked at all the preparation

    have a great ride, i'll be thinking of you

  • recipesforcreativity June 13, 2009, 4:28 pm

    Wahoo, good luck!

  • teacherwoman June 13, 2009, 4:32 pm

    Sending good vibes your way! Hoping for scenario #3! GOOD LUCK, CAITLIN!

  • Adi (oatonomy.com) June 13, 2009, 4:32 pm

    You will do great! It's so exciting seeing you pick up a new sport with so much passion. I only wish I had a competitive bone in my body so that I would love racing too. 🙂 Maybe some day!
    … 60 miles is gonna fly by. Good luck!

  • Kelly June 13, 2009, 4:36 pm

    Good luck tomorrow- you are going to be awesome!

  • Holly Noelle June 13, 2009, 4:37 pm

    Good luck! Your blog is so inspirational!

  • Nhuy June 13, 2009, 4:39 pm

    Have fun tomorrow! And way to go with thinking positively:)

  • Melissa @ For the Love of Health June 13, 2009, 4:42 pm

    Good luck Caitlin!! I am sure it will be a blast!! I hope you wake up and your eye is fine!

  • Matt June 13, 2009, 4:42 pm

    Looks like you are all set!

  • april June 13, 2009, 4:45 pm

    Good luck! You'll do great!

  • katherine June 13, 2009, 4:46 pm

    good luck tomorrow! you sound super prepared and i bet you're going to have a great time. can't wait to read a recap!

  • Anna June 13, 2009, 4:46 pm

    Best of luck Caitlin! I'm sure you'll rock that race, patch or no patch.

  • Claire June 13, 2009, 5:15 pm

    Hope tomorrow is awesome! I'm sure you'll do great. Enjoy the time with your dad.

  • Brandi June 13, 2009, 5:26 pm

    hoping and praying for #3! looks like you're all ready, and how fun to carbo-load and do this race with your dad 🙂

  • Rachel in Seattle June 13, 2009, 5:34 pm

    Hey, I have that same green floral bag! Yay Target!

    Good luck, good luck!

  • Justine June 13, 2009, 6:02 pm

    Good luck tomorrow! I'm looking forward to hearing about your first bike race! And hopefully your eye will clear up! Makes me think that maybe I should keep better care of my contacts, too!

  • Kelsey June 13, 2009, 6:11 pm

    good luck tomorrow!!! i'll be thinking of and rooting for you tomorrow!!!

  • Jocelyn June 13, 2009, 6:37 pm

    good luck tomorrow!!!!!!!

    mmmm cold stone creamery!!!!

  • Stacey June 13, 2009, 6:46 pm

    Haha. ARggggg Matey 🙂

    I usually make my own garlic bread, but there is something so delicious about getting it from a restaraunt!! My boyfriend eats any and everything before a race, I can always give him my leftovers to eat for breakfast, hehe.

    Good luck with your race!!

  • definingwellness June 13, 2009, 6:56 pm

    Good luck and have a blast tomorrow! I hope that your eye is feeling a million times better! I'm glad you had fun carbo-loading with your Dad. 🙂

  • FoodsThatFit June 13, 2009, 6:59 pm

    I see you sporting that Crooms shirt! :)I just dug mine out from one our boxes. SO many fun memories from that race!

    Have so much fun tomorrow during your Metric Century!!!!!

  • meghanN June 13, 2009, 7:04 pm

    SO glad the eye is doing better, good luck tomorrow! Praying for #3!

  • havefaith4ever June 13, 2009, 7:22 pm

    Good luck! I can't wait to hear all about it! You're gonna do AWESOME!
    <3 jess

  • Niki June 13, 2009, 7:33 pm

    Good luck tomorrow girl! Your gonna do awesome! Can't wait for the race report!!

  • Rebeca @All Vegged Out June 13, 2009, 7:36 pm

    Yummy carbs!

    Good Luke Tomorrow! Can't wait to hear about it… Esp. since you get to go with your dad… that's fabulous!

  • Kristi @ Sweet Cheeks June 13, 2009, 7:41 pm

    Yay for carb loading! I think you definitely chose some good eats to get fueled up on. Good luck for tomorrow, I am sure you will do fantastic. I'm hoping your eye feels 100% better tomorrow!!

  • ms June 13, 2009, 8:20 pm

    caitlin, you're going to do so well tomorrow and have that euphoric feeling of accomplishment. seriously, your positive attitude will be the wind at your back.
    can't wait to hear all about it! good luck!

  • Kath June 13, 2009, 8:25 pm

    Good luck Caitlin!!!!

  • Angie (Losing It and Loving It) June 13, 2009, 9:09 pm

    Hope you have a great race and your eye feels better.

    Love me some Cold Stone LOL

  • ChickPea June 13, 2009, 9:44 pm

    Good luck tomorrow!

  • Leslie June 13, 2009, 9:46 pm

    We're pulling for you Caitlin! I know with your determination and positive attitude, even if you wear patches on both eyes, you'll still find a way to finish the race. Most of all, have fun!

  • Tay June 13, 2009, 11:24 pm

    GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!! You'll rock that century ride. I know it, girl!

  • Susan June 14, 2009, 2:01 am

    Hahaha, my boyfriend is an h-core cyclist. He says I can get away with my non-jersey shirts and dollarstore glasses, but I am not allowed to wear my camelbak on my bike 😛

    GOOD LUCK!! (although, you don't need it, even with a gimp eye)

  • elise June 14, 2009, 2:46 am

    way to go pirate! cant wait for the post-race recap 🙂

  • Oh She Glows June 14, 2009, 3:48 am

    GOODLUCK hun!!! LOVE YOU!!!

  • inmytummy June 14, 2009, 4:36 am

    Glad your eye feels better. If you have to run with the eye patch, at least you'll be able to tell people that you did this really long race WITH ONE EYE CLOSED!!

  • K from ksgoodeats June 14, 2009, 6:38 am

    GOOD LUCK!!

  • Trish June 14, 2009, 6:42 am

    Hope your eye is better. Hope the race is fantastic – can't wait to hear about. 🙂

  • Becky June 14, 2009, 7:27 am

    Good Luck! Yes, carb-loading is one of the best parts! You'll do great, and hopefully your eye is doing better 🙂

  • Christina June 14, 2009, 7:41 am

    That baked ziti looks so good. Carb loading is the best! Good luck tomorrow 🙂

  • D10 June 14, 2009, 7:58 am

    I am sure you had a blast today. Hope the eye is feeling better. Can't wait to hear all about your ride. I think it is so cool you are riding with your dad.

  • Island Girl Eats June 14, 2009, 8:12 am

    Glad to hear that you eye is feeling better.

    You are so right – the best part about the race is the carb loading. You did a good job! That ziti looked delicious. We are watching The Sopranos and they keep talking about ziti. I never knew what it was before.

    Just to let you know, I am hosting my first ever give away, stop by and check it out!

    Good Luck with your race!!!!!

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