Thoughts to run by

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 Less then 24 hours until the start of my 6th 100 and I find myself pondering all the things. There’s a lot that can happen over 100 miles and while I have a plan, we all know what happens to most plans! But I also have some new thoughts to focus on while wandering the woods looking for tents with food. 

Control what you can control. This one is the easiest. Some things - like gear, drop bags and snacks can be controlled. I can neatly pack my drop bag, knowing that I planned for contingencies with the gear contained. I can control the amount of effort I put out on the climbs and control the pace on the runnable sections as to not blow my legs up. I can manage my temperature by carrying the right gear and being smart about when I put on or take off clothes. All of these things are things I’ve practiced. If it’s something I can alter the outcome of by changing my actions, then I can control it. 

Manage what you can’t control. And then there are other aspects of races that are outside my sphere of influence. I can’t control the weather, other runners and their crew or what the aid stations have. I can only manage my reactions to the uncontrollable. Raining? Put on my rain coat before I start getting cold and wet. Get the hat and gloves on before the temperature plummets. I know it will happen, I just don’t know when or how cold. So manage my actions. Other runners can also have an impact on the race - don’t allow them to get in your head and focus on the internal. I’ve done enough races that I know there’s the potential my drop bag might not make it to Summit Lake. I can’t control that. But I can adjust if it doesn’t. It’s really just snacks and drink. Everything else important I will carry. Just means that I might need to rely on the aid stations a little more! 

Be bothered. I got this one off FB. Be bothered - but what does that mean? It means pay attention to the little things. Something that is a small annoyance now can derail things later. If it’s bothering me, stop and address jt now. Don’t wait until it’s a major issue to try and recover. Keep the bothersome things at bay and that will help manage the day step by step. 

So there we go. I was once told is anyone ever really ready for a 100 when I said I didn’t think I would run one ever. And no - we aren’t ever really ready. But we can keep those things in mind - control what you can, manage the uncontrollable and be bothered - and hopefully make it to the finish line!

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