The Night Before...

As usual on the day before a race, today was filled with the million little details that it takes to get ready for a race.

Times two.

...Get the kids off to the grandparents and the dog off to the vets for boarding and get all the running gear together, plus stuff for an overnight and on and on.

On top of all that, the Viaduct Trail Ultra is an "unsupported" race. That means the race organizers have a water stop at the halfway point (about 6 miles), and they will bring a drop bag to the turnaround, but you're on your own when it comes to food, first aid, and so on. So, we bought a bunch of food and water, made a cooler full of ice, sit up the food and extra clothes and first aid into two drop bags plus a third to keep in the car.

The course is a 12.5 mile out and back along a rail-to-trail course. There are several road crossings, and the plan is that I'll drive around and check on Pam at some of the road crossings, then at the turnaround, and do whatever I can to help out with food, water, blisters and so on. When she gets to the turnaround on the second lap, I hope to drive back and park the car at the finish line, then jog out backwards along the course until I meet up with Pam and run the last 5 or 6 miles back with her. We'll see how long that lasts...