Just off of another weekend of tests and preparations with the big game ready to start on Nov 12.  Pouring rain and wind provided an excellent opportunity to test out my waterproof shells — have always used them for city running, but the thought of running in the mountains far far away just adds another tinge of “let’s be sure”.  Had the Hudson just about all to myself with the dark weather……and it was beautiful.  No complaints, no people and plenty of room to muse – and the plus of staying toasty and dry.

More prep with a Wilderness class with REI in Central Park on Saturday which proved to be a great choice — Rob rolled his eyes a bit when I announced that I had signed both of us up…..but a few hours later after building a survival lean to, making fire, and learning about snares he had a smile on his face.  (NOT that I will be needing any of these skills in Patagonia, but there is a comforting layer of confidence that the additional knowledge and reminders of lessons learned when young that it certainly adds.)  Check out the photos of what we built – it may be a new listing on Air B&B!

And the ongoing saga and discussion of planning pace….  I’m sticking to the promised 6 mile markers; as long as I divide every day in to 4 chapters (x6 or so) my brain can remain on “calm” and “solid”.  6 miles to the next marker…check in, get water, fuel up and on to the next.  Hell, I can do that four times a day.  And my pace is all my own – with a goal of “finish” lacing throughout the mile markers. 

But I have to say that my Garmin watch has yet to allow me to add this “Iris” conservative pace and mindset to the different zones available on the watch face. This conservative pace is one that I like to refer to as “Slow As Shit” (yeah I know expletives so let’s just call is “SAS” pace for short) or as I mantra to myself “Patagonia Pace” which means I can run and run and walk and walk and never need to stop.  So that’s the tempo I’d like to take generally at the very beginning of Patagonia, thinking about the NYC Marathon start in Staten Island when although I try to maintain a “SAS” tempo, it actually can translate itself in to two minutes faster than my usual pace due the rookie runners — they just can’t help but run with glee and speed and take everyone with them because its all about fun and excitement as you cross the Verrazano bridge — and my goodness, on top of that the cheering spectators. When you hear and see them you can’t help but run like the wind it’s so invigorating. So back to reality and “SAS”. (And a disclaimer to those who know that shit is not always slow especially on mile 13 when you regret the decision to try a new gel that your stomach says absolutely not.  If you don’t know what I am referring to, count yourself either lucky or inexperienced) But I digress. This tempo SAS is excellent for Day One Patagonia, and probably days 2, 3, 4 and right through my onboarding of my flight home as well. I plan on taking it slow and just enjoying the scenery; there is no rush. I usually do anyhow as I’m a back of the pack type of runner. Antithesis of my husband Rob. We just ran the Runners World Festival last weekend with a 5K and 10K marathon on day one and a half marathon on day two all throughout the beautiful and historic streets of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I had to laugh when we compared notes and I asked him if he enjoyed all the historical mansions and homes and stories that I had taken in while running, including reading the historical plates describing who lived there, why they were important, stores and spots to revisit when not running and so on — he looked at me with an incredulous look on his face — “you actually read that while running?” Two very different runners, two very different zones: for Rob it’s all about getting to the finish and making good time. For me I like to enjoy “the ride” –  that’s the fun of it for me. And boy did I learn a lot about Bethlehem history on those runs!  I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

And back up Plan Z: I looked at Rob the other day and said to him “I’m just going to share this thought with you and then we won’t talk about it again.”  I continued, “Hey babe, if for some reason I can’t finish the run in Patagonia, and I’m not seriously injured, I plan on staying on (if they’ll have me) and crew for the remainder of the event. I mean it’s all about the journey, right? And if I can’t quite make it to the finish line, I can still enjoy the ride; how cool would it be if I could help support the other participants make it to the finish line!”.  He looked at me, shook his head, and told me that he couldn’t do that – his inclination would be to go home and not continue to see the race in front of him, unfinished; it would kill him. I understand that, truly; but again, 2 different people, 2 different perspectives, both so real and human. (But I must end this Plan Z with a roar to the gods: I do intend on finishing and it’s going to feel delicious!)

I’m sure there will be more planning over the next 2 weeks….for now, the NYC Marathon on Sunday.  A nice trial run of Day 1 Patagonia – although without a 20-pound pack on my back I will feel like I am cheating!

A rainy Hudson all to myself:

Soon to be on Air B&B!