18 - One week left!

Ok, the course looks really daunting. I'm worried about the wall at mile 20 - there is a bridge to navigate going from Greektown to Chinatown that will not be pleasant. The last bridge at Columbus and Roosevelt also looks deadly. The rest should be fairly flat.. For a look at the course, click here --> Course Map.

Schedule of first and last runners to pass each area:

Start to Mile 2 8:00 a.m. - 8:57 a.m. Grant Park - Streeterville
Mile 2 to Mile 4 8:09 a.m. - 9:24 a.m. Loop - River North
Mile 4 to Mile 6 8:19 a.m. - 9:52 a.m. Old Town - Lincoln Park
Mile 6 to Mile 8 8:28 a.m. - 10:19 a.m. Lakeview
Mile 8 to Mile 10 8:38 a.m. - 10:47 a.m. Lincoln Park
Mile 10 to Mile 12 8:47 a.m. - 11:14 a.m. Old Town - River North
Mile 12 to Mile 14 8:57 a.m. - 11:42 a.m. West Loop - Greektown
Mile 14 to Mile 16 9:06 a.m. - 12:09 p.m. Near West Side - United Center
Mile 16 to Mile 18 9:16 a.m. - 12:37 p.m. Little Italy - UIC
Mile 18 to Mile 20 9:25 a.m. - 1:04 p.m. Pilsen
Mile 20 to Mile 22 9:35 a.m. - 1:32 p.m. Chinatown
Mile 22 to Mile 24 9:44 a.m. - 1:59 p.m. Bridgeport - U.S. Cellular Field
Mile 24 to Mile 26 9:54 a.m. - 2:27 p.m. South Loop

Schedule for the last week of training:

Mon 10/16 - Rest - Walked 30 minutes in the morning, more than one hour in the evening. Eating well (too well).
Tue 10/17 - 3 miles - Had 90 minute massage (masseuse recommended by A. Agassi) followed by 30 minutes of swimming, and some grueling jacuzzi work. PRS, PCK
Wed 10/18 - 4 miles - Rest (did a lot of walking during the day though). CHC,EME
Thu 10/19 - 2 miles - Ran, first time this week. A little over 5 miles in the late morning (this was a delayed Wednesday run) around a nice rubberized 3/8 mile track.) Walked a lot during the day and evening. CAF,STP
Fri 10/20 - rest - Walked briskly for about 35 minutes in the early morning (oops). Did some other walking during the day, but mostly rested. Napped in the late morning to afternoon. Swam about 20 minutes. Took a nice hot bath too.
Sat 10/21 - rest. (done)
Sun 10/22 - RACE!

I'm pretty nervous about the race. I have been stuffing myself with desserts all week and not eating that healthy. But I've done lots of walking. My mid-week long run did not feel that great, I felt a little tired and out of shape. I had 3:08 to 3:12 lap times on the 3/8 loop. I have a lovely new Ironman Triathlon watch/chronometer that tells me my split times, so I can keep track of my performance during the race and make any necessary adjustments. Race day is scheduled to be in the 30s in the morning, warming up to the 40s. As long as there is no rain, I think I can live with this. I wonder if I can make fuel gels out of spray dried malt..