Weather Watch

8 days to go?! Dagnammit that ticker at the top of this page is making me nervous!

Right now I have two concerns:
1) My hip has a dull ache
2) The weather

Fortunately I think that issue #1 might go away with a strict regime of yoga and the reduced mileage that my taper has me doing anyway. Tomorrow is nice easy 10 miler (whoever thought that those words would come out of my fingers?!) and my schedule only has me doing a couple of shortish runs next week. I'll probably sit in some ice and hope for the best and hopefully that will be enough.

The weather I have little control over and all I can do it watch and wait. Yesterday the forecast was for 26ºC and partial cloud. Today it's saying about the same temperature but with 68% humidity and showers - ouch!

Long-range forecasts are notoriously inaccurate but the thought of running in that humidity fills me with dread. For someone who's (half) English I'm dealing remarkably well with the heat (must be the Portuguese half - thanks dad!) For my first 20 miler I was one of few in my marathon class to have made it to the end with an even pace, no walking and feeling strong and that was with a later start on a day not much cooler than the 26ºC predicted for the day - but humidity?! I haven't really had to practice that yet. My biggest concern is chafing. Will my beloved Vaseline be able to hold out for 26.22 miles in 68% humidity?!

I think the overall plan is going to have to be a slower pace, while until recently I'd hoped for a sub-4:30 I think I'm now shooting for a getting my rear end over the finish line in one piece. Preferably with as little walking as possible (though that excludes drinking - I just haven't got down that drinking from a cup while running thing yet).

Only time will tell. For now I will just have to watch the weather with anticipation while performing Warrior 1...