Vermont 100: What was I thinking??

Every time I sign up for a 100 miler, it seems like a good idea on paper. But as time gets closer I realize how far it is. One hundred miles in the car tires me out! On my feet completely exhausts me.

But now I am committed (or is it, I should be committed). I am pretty well packed, have a race day strategy and am just waiting for the starting "GO!".

I am familiar with the course (it is described as a shamrock in which you start, run around Woodstock VT, get to "Camp 10 Bear" at mile 47 then loop around returning to "Camp 10 Bear" at mile 70, pick up a pacer and run the final 30 miles to the finish. The course goes up and down mountains sometimes getting to the top and then running down, other times getting to the top then running along the ridge. We run on asphalt, single track and mostly jeep/VT roads. The course takes us along fields, through pastures, by farms, over rivers, in forests and even through several covered bridges.

We travel up the old suicide six ski trails, we run through a maple farm and by many farms including one farm that has a warning sign indicating "You can run this pasture in 10 seconds, But the Bull can run it in 9!"

Other than the first 15 miles (which have only 1 aid station and no drop bags), the rest of the course has aid stations about every 5 miles and drop bags about every 10 miles. I have packed my drop bags with lots of items including:

Layers (shirt, pants, jacket),
Spare Shoes,
Socks
Gaiters
Glide
Bandanas
Hat
Sunglasses

For aid stations later in the day I have
spare headlamp
flashlight
more layers (shirts, pants, jacket)

I also have "med pack" which are snack sized ziplocs with
toilet paper
wet wipes
bug wipes
advil
pepto bismo
immodim
tums

In my fanny pack "Sparkeley" (the SILVER one) I will carry
a starter "med pack"
spare small flashlight
petzel elite headlamp
camera
spare battery
several sports bars
poncho
lip balm
sunscreen packets

My outfit will be my lucky outfit including my
Pink "Tammy" Hind Tank
Pink Marathongirl Skirt
Seamless Moving Comfort underwear
Seamless Champion bra
DRYMAX Trail Running Socks (best socks EVER!)
Hawaiin print "Dirty Girl" gaiters
Flower pony tail holder
Pink Bandana

I will wear my Garmin 305 and expect it will stop working about 50 miles in. Tristan will provide me my second Garmin at Margaritaville.

I have not entirely decided my shoes but know they will be Asics Gel Kayano XIV (blue/purple) or XII (red). Whichever pair I do not start in will be carried by Tristan to Margaritaville for my planned shoe change at mile 62.

This outfit has served me well (no blisters, good finish times and happy ultra's) and thus I stick with what works.

I know it will take me about 30 minutes to get ready before the race. My biggest challenge at 2 a.m. on Saturday morning will be to get in my contacts. My second challenge will be to apply glide on every potential chaffing surface on my body. This includes by my bra, underpants and every seam or location where clothing may rub. I can happily say I no longer need to waste a cannister of glide on my feet because of my DRYMAX socks (have I mentioned how GREAT they are??) but will apply a smidge to my heel because of dry skin.

I am anxious for this race to start because at this point there is no time left for cramming. Also I am now excited and ready for this big event. I know I will have an AMAZING time and will savor every minute of my journey!