As we pulled up to the hotel, we saw Ann and George coming out! They driven from ME, arriving a little the night before us. While we were getting checked in, Mindy and Pete showed up! We were all on the second floor. We had gone with the hotel because the race info said it was right at the start/finish. The condos the others rented really weren't that much further and were certainly nicer. Noted.
With so many of us there, staying different places, it was a little hard to coordinate dinners, etc. Jedi, Ann, Mindy, Pete, Rick and I went to packet pickup at about the same time, around 3pm when it opened. It was about 4 miles from the hotel at what would be the Olympian aid station (miles, 51 and 64 on the course). We got our numbers, a few free samples, and had our pre-race picture taken (Scout and Squirrel have been meaning to do this for Riverlands. Maybe 2023 is the year we finally pull it off!).
Ann and George headed back to the hotel. They planned to eat in and not go to the pre-race meeting at 6pm. We tried to decide what to do. It seemed a little to early to eat, but we definitely wanted to eat before the meeting. Rick and I planned on being in bed by 8. We all had our phones out looking for spots. I wanted a burger for dinner and one to take home for breakfast. I have found that burgers are really good before my long runs. I don't get hungry for a long time. Kristen had found us and knew more of the food and breweries around us, having been in Steamboat since Tuesday. We finally decided on an Irish pub that was very close.
Good decision. We all got to sit at the outside bar. The waiter was fun. They had a great beer selection. We all found something we wanted. And since it was happy hour, they had some pretty good deals! I ordered a huge waygu beef burger with sweet potato fries and $7 happy hour burger to take home for breakfast. Perfect. We killed just the right amount of time. Off to the pre-race meeting.
Jedi was smart. In the long time standing, listening to the race director, I think we learned two things we cared about....and I only remember one, the course markings. Red ribbons meant you were on the 100 course. Blue ribbons meant you were on the 50 course (a no no for us). Blue and red ribbons meant you were on course that was shared by both 50 milers and 100 milers. Yellow ribbon was our Mr T. You are where you don't belong. I'm not sure how much we missed, but we left soon after that. Mindy texted Anne with the little we learned.
Well, Rick and I were in bed by 8, but I did not fall asleep sometime after 10:30. By 3am, I was awake for the night. I tried to stay quiet and still so that Rick could get some sleep. He did better than me, but still not that well. Remember I mentioned how much my resting heart rate had increased during Ally's illness? Well, in CO, my heart rate during sleep was at least 10 bpm faster than my normal. This night it was a full 18 min faster (normal is high 40s). What's that mean? Who knows. More stressed? Due to race or elevation or both?
Finally, it was time to get up. I set out all my clothes, put my bladder filled with water and one flask with Ginger Mapleade into my vest. Then I ate my cold burger. It was bigger than I realized, but I was able to eat all but one bite. I did take off the onion and tomato so it was burger, cheese, pickles and mayo. Ready. I checked in with Squirrel. She was ready to head to the start...Oh! That's the other thing we learned at the meeting. The start wasn't obvious due to the construction going on at the ski resort. We would be met my race people who would lead us to the start. Interesting. We knocked on Jedi's door, but there was no answer. Probably out there already.
I don't think I mentioned that Jedi and I had opted to take the race up on the early start for the elderly. Any woman over 50 or man over 60 could start at 7am rather than at 8 with all the rest. I hate a mass start so was all over it! And, if I needed that extra hour, yeah, I'd take it. Since the first three miles are straight up the ski slope, I could just envision the long conga line, with all my claustrophobic issues driving me crazy. If there is a perk for being old, yes please.
Of course Tanya was there! She made sure we had photos to document. Bucky, Craig, Karen, Sam, Kristen, and Pete also made it out to see the early start! I started in shorts, short sleeved TMR shirt, sleeves, gaiters, poles, and stuffed vest. I think there were less than 25 of us that toed the line at 7. And we were off!!!
Next installment: The Race
Excitedly awaiting next installment 😍
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