One week to go...

I re-read my blog post from last year's West Highland Way Race earlier today, for pretty much the first time since I wrote it (it's there on the right-hand side of the blog main page). In one week's time I'll be making final preparations for the weekend; this is my third year being part of the race, but my first not being part of a runner's crew. This year, I'm part of the race crew instead - I'll be working at registration on Friday night, then after the race starts there'll be plenty of time for rest/sleep/food etc. (including a long drive) and then I have a long 8-9 hour shift as part of the team marshalling at Kinlochleven checkpoint. After that, it'll be clearing up and clearing out, driving to Fort William, and maybe a short rest before the prizegiving ceremony.

It's a special weekend, and I'm already really excited at the prospect. I have so many friends and acquaintances running it this year, some for the first time, some for the second or third (some in a lycra Spider-man suit), some who have completed it many more times before... I feel pride and excitement for them, and the thought of the emotional prizegiving ceremony is already making me go a bit funny. I'm looking forward to meeting more people too, it's such a welcoming 'family' to be part of.

And so, with all the heightened emotions and excitement, with a week to go I also have to get down to the basics: how am I going to spend a weekend volunteering at this race without derailing my own training and weightloss journey? It's too easy to eat junk, lots of snacks, lots of frequent grazing on sugary sweets or whatever you can get your hands on to 'keep the energy levels up', and so on. I didn't do great with my own nutrition at the races I've marshalled this year so far (D33 and the Fling) but I want to be a little more prepared for this one. It's in my favour that I'll have a nice long break between the two sets of duties, where I can sleep properly and get a decent lunch/dinner, and it's further working for me that KLL has the advantage of a small kitchen with kettle... I'll spend the next few days planning it out. Exercise-wise, Saturday and Sunday will of course be a write-off for me (apart from whatever I track on my pedometer, lol), but having the Friday and Monday booked off work means I won't lose out with my own training.

It can all be done, with a little planning and preparation: being there to help all the runners will give me such a brilliant boost mentally (every single one of them is an absolute superstar, and just so inspiring), and with preparing properly, my own goals will also continue to be progressed. I got a message last night; all I really need to bring with me is a sense of humour. And tea. CHECK, and CHECK. (What with me being utterly hilarious.....) Can. Not. Wait!