going b-a-n-a-n-a-s

after getting fired up about the notion of drugs in athletics, i've taken to exploring my personal prepartations for a home race and although this topic has been dealt with a number of time in previous posts, i live a fairly boring existence these days- and revisiting this notion i feel will debunk the myth that "professional" or "elite" distance runners' lives are parallel to an mtv special.

point 1: athletes need to relax and avoid vigorous activity prior to competition. this apparently includes showering as late in the day as possible. i'm now well into the afternoon and have embraced my bedhead, t-shirt from the day before, and sweat pants. i've dented the couch for hours now, rising only to bring food and caffeine to the coffee table and reach the remote control i dropped on the floor. and of course i cannot be bothered with the strenuous task of opening any window blinds.

point 2: athletes must pay special attention to diet and fluids before a race. i actually do this fairly well, but feel a need to address the issue to assure readers my performances are not fueled by evenings of cristal as once previous thought. i've downed my morning blend of granola and yogurt (blueberry flavor) and took my "drugs" last evening and this morning- vitamin C and iron in the p.m., B complex in the a.m. nobody likes a guy with scurvy.

point 3: athletes must remain focused for the race, clearing the mind of unrelated rubbish. my favorite. i like to focus on the race when i'm at the event, trying to simulate practice as much as possible. and i'm well aware that writing about the race is probably counter-productive. fear not, as i find my eyes and mind wrapped around episodes of american chopper, a tv edited version of the big lebowski, and the ncaa division I lacrosse semi-finals. at the same time i can hear, faintly at first, the dripping sound of my brain rotting. every once in a while i'll realize a mind is a terrible thing to waste, so i'll turn to music. since much of the radio makes me sick (with the exception of the sixx mixx- thanks to jj jblunt and gwen stefani's "hollaback girl"-have you HEARD the sick beats?!) and i don't get any radio reception in the house, i've taken to flipping through my cd's. this makes me wonder how i came to own not only a hootie and the blowfish cd, but the mo' money soundtrack as well...good thing i put my name on those gems, wouldn't want to have to replace them. obviously i will need to turn to video games soon.

i suppose these are the 3 major points of pre-race prep. now all that's left is to run consecutive miles in 4:28, 4:23, 4:20 and a final 200m in 29 seconds. this is the end- my final attempt to qualify for the 5000m race at US nationals. at the very least, i know i've prepared correctly.