Last Post Before NY City Marathon

NY CITY MARATHON WEATHER FORECAST UPDATE! WCBS NY: Early sprinkles, ending before the start of the marathon. High of 57.
WNBC NY: Doesn't mention sprinkles, no rain, high of 59. Marathon temperature at 9 a.m. is supposed to be 52 degrees. WOO-HOO!! I'm such a wuss. Every time I see a story on the NY news about the marathon, I get all emotional. I'm afraid I'm going to break down and cry running through Central Park to the finish line. Won't that make a nice race pic?!

I'm ready. I better be ready, huh?! I haven't run since Monday, because the weather didn't cooperate. It was pouring rain on Wednesday, so I didn't get to run my scheduled last run before the marathon. It's not a big deal. I've been carb loading since Thursday, which I always did before my previous three marathons. Pizza, bagels, yogurt, and other carbs have been my main foods. I believe carb loading works, at least for me. In short, here's what carb loading does: "In the case of a marathon, carb loading is a must during the week of the marathon, particularly in the final three days before race day. Our bodies have the capability of storing large amounts of glycogen which is converted from consumed carbohydrates. By consuming more and exercising less (your taper period), your body is able to store more glycogen. As you run during the marathon, your body will burn glycogen. When glycogen runs out, your body will transition to burn fat as the primary source of fuel. The object is to store and replenish enough glycogen so that you do not run out before you reach the finish line. Carb loading is a method that will lessen the likelihood that your tank will run empty." Sounds good to me, so that's why I carb load.
I downloaded 13 of your suggestions into my mp3 player for tomorrow. The 13 I chose were based on my listening preferences. Please don't be offended if I didn't choose one of your songs. Remember, I was born in 1956, and my music taste for the most part still goes back to the 70's. That being said, these 13 songs, plus 90 more, will be with me as I run the five boroughs of New York. I'm getting goosebumps just typing that...
* Don't Stop Me Now: Queen
* I Gotta Feelin': The Black Eyed Peas
* Poker Face: Lady Gaga
* Nobody's Fault But Mine: Led Zeppelin
* Viva La Vida: Coldplay
* Beautiful Day: U2
* All Fired Up: Pat Benatar
* Gives You Hell: All American Rejects
* Let it Rock: Kevin Rudolf
* He's a Pirate: Klaus Badelt
* Born to Run: Bruce Springsteen
* I Feel the Earth Move: Carole King
* Black Betty: Ram Jam

In addition, my son suggested All the Small Things by Blink 182; as well as December by Collective Soul. My wife's suggestion: Train Train by Blackfoot.
My day today will be busy. I will be getting my son up at 8 a.m., get him showered and dressed, go buy a lock for my suitcase, finish packing, have my wonderful wife drive me to the New Haven train station, take the 11:55 a.m. train to Grand Central, get a cab to my hotel, check in, go to Javits Center a mile away to get my race packet, return to hotel, go to Carmine's Restaurant a mile away for a free dinner and meet the other 125 Autism Speaks runners, then back to my hotel. From 5:30 p.m. on I should finally have time to relax(?) and then at 8 p.m. watch the World Series. Sunday, marathon morning, I don't have to get the bus until 7:30 a.m., which is good. Autism Speaks is providing the bus transportation, and we have two private buses. The bus pick up point is a half mile from my hotel, but that's ok. I should be at the drop off point by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge by 8:00, which means I'll have to wait about 2 1/2 hours before I'm able to start. It's a staggered start, meaning 14,000 runners run at 9:40, 10, and 10:20. Each half hour starting time has runners lined up in one of seven corrals, with about 2,000 runners in each corral. This way there isn't 42,000 runners starting at the same time. Television coverage is at 9 a.m., and NBC channel 4 out of NY is broadcasting from 6 a.m. until about 12 noon. So that means that I'll have about 1 1/2 hours of possible tv time. Also, I'm wearing bib # 44355, and I'll be wearing a light blue colored Autism Speaks tank top, with my name (Rick)on the front in big white letters. I'll be a running billboard I guess! My wife and daughter are meeting me at the finisher area, and I've told them to bring nose plugs. I'll have a change of clothes, but won't be able to shower until after we take the train home. Ewwww. I'm hopefully going to be able to meet Lindsay, of Chasing the Kenyans blog. She's already in NY City, and we've exchanged cell phone numbers. I'll have to find her today, or prior to 9:00 marathon day, since she's a speedster and starting at 9:20. Before I end, I want to once again thank all of you for your support. Back in June, when I was upset that I wasn't accepted into the marathon, I decided with your help to join team Autism Speaks. Raising $2600 to be a part of the team was a challenge, but with your donations, and donations of friends, family, and co-workers of mine and my wife's, I surpassed the $2600 goal. For five months I have had your and their support. Now, with 15 1/2 hours to go, it's hard to believe it's nearly here. I am going to be running my fourth, and last, marathon. Why my last? This 53 year old doesn't like the six months of training before the 1 day of running. It gets stressful, I get more aches and pains, and it gets in the way of my family life at times. The NY City Marathon. It doesn't get any better than that if you're a runner. I will run-walk-run smart. I will stick to my training plan. I will not run stupid. I WILL finish. Will I run a PR of better than 4:22:19? Who knows. I'll see how the first half goes, and adjust my pace accordingly. I'm getting emotional again. Yes, I'll probably be crying tears of joy as I cross the finish line tomorrow. I am such a wuss...LOL.