Race the River is in 2 1/2 days. I’m anxious, but I’m hopeful. With the exception of another open-water swim – which will be for the purpose of just practicing, not working out – I’m done working out. All that’s left for me to do is relax, eat healthy food, and get as much sleep as I can.I received a pre-race email from the organizers today. Transition opens at 5:45 a.m., and closes at 6:45 a.m. The pre-race meeting is at 6:50. My start is at 7:12. Because of those early times, I plan to get up at 4:30 tomorrow and Saturday. That means going to bed at 8 o’clock tonight.

I feel like a middle-schooler. But I also know how important sleep is, and how valuable adjusting my sleep schedule now, a few days ahead of time, is.

I was planning to swim in the river tonight, but given that I’ll be going to bed so early, I’m deferring that workout to Friday. That means it’s even more important that I don’t “workout,” and that I refuel coming out of the water. I have Friday afternoon off, which makes doing the swim then more sensible.

This is that uncomfortable point in a training schedule. There is no workout I can do at this point that will help my performance. Sleep, nutrition, and hydration are the only things I can work on at this point. Of course I want to go for a run to burn off some energy, but nope nope nope – not gunna do it.

Oh, crap – I just remembered we’re supposed to go to the Dust Devil’s game with the church tomorrow. 😦 That complicates things. I guess I’ll go to bed early tonight to get as much sleep as I can, and then hope for the best for tomorrow night.