The Things You Do The Day Before a Marathon

(Hopefully, if you're lucky, you have a dear friend to enjoy the day with, preferably one who will join you on the 26.2 mile journey)

1. You walk to the grocery store to buy andouille sausage (for the post-race meal), bananas (for the pre-race peanut butter and banana sandwich), and an InTouch magazine because it's a mild addiction you don't have the patience to shake.

2. You arrange the gels in your fuel belt so that the weight is evenly distributed on both hips.

3. You walk to Common Roots with above-referenced friend and buy everything bagel sandwiches with egg, tomato, and cheese.  You eat these bagels by the lake, in the sunshine.

4. You walk to the running store to buy a couple more gels that you probably don't need because you've become somewhat worried about the lower sodium content in the variety you currently own.  It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow, do I need more salt?

5. You walk to the wine and cheese store for cheese samples (for today) and beer (for tomorrow).

6. You head to the packet pick-up/expo and purchase a cheesey t-shirt, a 26.2 bumper sticker, and a bottle of gatorade.  You eat the free yogurt sample.  You take the free potato chip sample, knowing you'll never eat it.

7. You sit on the floor of your apartment with above-referenced friend and decorate tank tops with nicknames, Bible verses, and recommended shouts ("Run, Rachel, Run"...no commas on the shirt, sorry).

8. You go to Pizza Luce. For a moment you think about ordering something new, but are quickly supported in your general superstition that "new" is bad the day before a race.  Ruby Rae it is.  Ruby Rae it will always be.

9. You try on your race day gear, complete with new arm warmers, and think, "well, at least I LOOK like I can do this."

10. You decide to wear earrings to the race. Earrings you stole from your sister's jewelry box which you have now decided are good luck because they belong to her. 

11. You lace your shoes with the race chip.  Hello, Marathon Race Chip! Welcome to my shoe!

12. You tuck a post-it note from your 2009 race, smeared with what used to read all of Hebrews 12:1, into the pocket of the tank you'll wear.  There's 2009 sweat on that piece of paper, if it can survive, so can you.

13. You make a cup of tea.

14. You blog.

15. You sleep.