So I got the first part of my Boston to-do done….
- Train really really hard
- Qualify! (Erie Marathon)
- Train a lot more. Run some hills.
There were a few other steps after that…
- Book a flight (technically I did this in July before I even qualified, but I was hopeful it would all work out well!)
- Book a room (Alan took care of this. I heard it’s going to be an awesome hotel!)
- Get accepted to run. (Made the cut by 30 seconds. Whew!!)
Now it’s time to get ready for the trip!!
Things I need to do still…
1) Buy some “throwaways”
We’ll be loading on the buses before the race long before the race starts, and we’ll be hanging out in Athlete’s Village with all of the other runners waiting for our wave to start. It will be hours of waiting time, so I’ll need to have something warm to wear which will be tossed (and donated) at the start of the race.
Here’s what I picked up on my lunch hour today at the thrift store – so this is now done! My outfit is on the left, Alan’s bargains are on the right. I think I got a pretty good outfit for $6! My pants are a boys size Large 🙂
2) Renew driver’s license
A technicality – since it’s my birthday on this trip, it also happen to be time to renew my driver’s license so I can’t forget to get this done! This is going down on Friday.
3) Finalize plans for the kids
This will be an adults only trip! We have taken the kids to watch Alan run Boston for the past 4 years (13 hr car ride), but this time we are flying, and it’s just the two of us. I need to get my plans for the kids all finalized since they will be in school and I need to make sure that goes smoothly. Schedules, lists and phone numbers need to be carefully documented.
4) Pack
I’ve kind of started this already with a pen and pad of paper next to my suitcase. I jot down things as I think of them. I don’t want to forget anything! A lot of the suitcase will be filled with my running gear. I’m taking clothes for a range of temperatures because you just never know what race day will bring!
5) Tan
Ok, this was probably an odd one, but seriously, I will look like a ghost when my body hits the sunlight for the first time. I haven’t been outside in short sleeve shirts or shorts for many many months and I don’t want to look like I live in a cave. I bought some gradual tanner and I’ve started my transformation to looking slightly normal skin colored again 🙂
I’m trying to avoid this from a few years ago… Eeek, ghastly white!!
Random pic of the day – me multitasking at Zack’s soccer practice, doing homework with Sydney in the car! When the weather is better I will be using that hour to run, or rollerblade on the bike trail next to the soccer fields. Looking forward to that!
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Q: Do you pack early for a trip?
A: I usually wait until the day before because I need most of it up until that time.
Q: Favorite color?
A: You might have been able to tell that the girls in my house favor bright pink!
Not only do I pack early I have a packing checklist!
I travel semi-frequently, so the packing checklist is a necessity!
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Now that makes sense! I don’t travel at all for work, so outside of vacations, that’s it. Now that you have to pay for luggage usually, it does get me thinking about packing earlier. But I’m always a little unrealistic – that we can use only 2 suitcases for our family of 4. Somehow I do make it work though! (wear same clothes everyday haha!)
Awesome! Adult trip!! That will be such a great time!!! How cool that you and your husband are running Boston!!!!
I too am ghostly white!!! And, I really don’t tan either! I too need to get on the spray tan or pick up some tanning cream. It is just so much work putting it on! ugh!!!
And great finds at the thrift store!!!! Throw aways are always a necessity!!!
I love that you are organized! My last half, I had planned to simply enjoy the run… oh yes, I was going to soak up the sites and take pictures!!! Well, I forgot to pack my phone clip and I was not going to carry it the whole way!!! Therefore, I didn’t carry phone to take pictures and just ran with all I had… Made a PR to!!! 🙂
Guess that “focusing on the race” plan B really worked out for you!! 🙂 Congrats on that! My husband is going to be the official camera carrier and picture taker for this race. He’ll be running circles around me while I’ll be panting away!
Gradual tanner…. I’m starting to get my “Boston glow” already. LOL
I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU! Just reading your updates gives me second-hand excitement.
I always pack at the last minute, not because I am procrastinating, but because I usually need to pack things I need up until the day I leave!
My favorite color is green but my favorite color to run in is purple :).
What shoes are you racing in??
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I’m really not even sure yet which shoes I’m running in! I’ve worn my Asics Gel Nimbus for most of my long runs, because they are warmer than my Newtons. They are my “cushy cruisers”. They are a bit heavier than my Netwons though, so that’s why I might not wear them. Decisions, decisions!
I usually pack at the last minute. And normally forget at least one thing. Remember when I left my pacing band at home? That wasn’t fun.
Good times!!