The Big Dance

After months of training, full of many highs and lows, the day has finally arrived! My dad will be arriving into San Diego this morning to crew for me tomorrow and Sunday. This week has been about primarily shoveling my face full of carbs and drinking more gatorade and water than is enjoyable. I have laid out everything that I may or may not need during the run. I have a bunch of GU gels all separated by which lap I will pick them up. I also have boiled potatoes and sea salt (don't knock it till you try it) and good ol' Coca Cola, something I really never drink unless I am running more than 30 miles.

I am going to try and take as many pictures as possible and chronicle what will be a long day of running. I am sure I will have plenty of time while I am recovering next week to figure out how to make a video montage. I will be the first to admit that the time that it takes to train and run ultras is a selfish undertaking.  This is why I wanted the first time I ran 100 miles to be for something bigger than myself. Many people have helped get me ready to take on 100 miles. My family and friends have been excellent and supportive during what most(all) of them consider a crazy undertaking. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read this blog and donate to Malia.

I think it is important to continue raising awareness about childhood cancer in our communities. It is difficult for a lot of people to imagine children undergoing painful cancer treatments. Oftentimes one likes to pretend that such hardships do not exist in the world. But the reality is they do, and children die everyday from cancer. There are many ways to help, one of which is making sure research money is allotted to childhood cancer research.

The human body is capable of doing so much more than is typically asked of it. Which is why I like ultrarunning. I have been fortunate enough until this point to be healthy and comfortable. Running these distances is a way to step out of this comfortable bubble and do something that scares me. So here goes nothing---tomorrow at 6am I will start running and won't stop until my feet have traversed 100 miles of pavement.