Thanks Everyone! I'm off :)

On part of the firetrails course during my back to back weekend with Sarah

Thank you so much to everyone who has been chiming in with advice and words of support over the last few days (weeks, months...). I'm sorry I haven't been individually responding to posts this week, life has just been too crazy. But I've read them all (and some two or three times), and really appreciate so much all the words that have been offered. Last night, with my classes and student teaching done for the week, I suddenly had the feeling of a weight being lifted and finally started getting truly happily excited about the race. Honestly, I've been so stressed with life the past few weeks, that my thoughts about Firetrails were more along the lines of anxiety, than excitement. Doing this whole running thing on top of my graduate program is harder than I had imagined. But, I think really important.

Today, just being able to focus on the race, I'm just getting really excited about this adventure. One really nice thing is that I'm actually getting all ready early since I need to be packed before I drive up, so I won't have as many things to do tonight. True, I'm still incredibly nervous and really don't know what will happen out there, but I know I'm in good hands (I just learned from the new ultrarunning magazine that Mike Palmer is the first person to do 10 Angeles Crests and 10 WS100s. How's that for a running partner?) There will be a ton of familiar faces out there (and new ones to meet! If I haven't met you yet, and you're going to be there, I'll be #22 :D Come say 'hi'!). Already, I've been reminded numerous times of the kindness of runners, from my friends willing to run with me, to all the kind words, and, most recently, a woman from the Ultra List who has offered to give me a montrail team jacket that she doesn't use, in response to an email I sent out wondering if I should go buy a windbreaker. Really you just can't find a nicer group.

No matter what happens (as I told my first graders yesterday, I'm just going to try my best, which is the most important thing) I'm so happy to be attempting this. It's scary to start something when I don't know all the variables and outcomes, but scary in a good way. I don't think this can help but be an amazing and positive experience with so many great things to look forward to.

I'm off in about half an hour to make the drive up to berkeley with Ed. I'll need to do some last minute errands to pick up a few things, and plan to watch A Race for the Soul to get some last minute insipration. I'm going to print out all the helpful comments people have sent me about the course to study, as well as bring along my Ultrarunning Magazine (side note- look for the Psychedelic Climectic Race Report :) I'm officially a published writer!) and enjoy a hopefully relaxing evening with Sarah and Ed before everything begins.

Thank you again everyone! I'm off :D