Three Months to go until 204 Solo Mles

Wait.  Seriously?  I only have 91 days until my solo running of the 204 mile American Odyssey Relay?  How did that happen?  It seems like it was just last week when I announced I would be eschewing the typical 12 person relay and taking on the biggest running challenge of my life.  Some have said the 52 Marathons in 52 weekends was a bigger running challenge but I have to say that it was more a luck, logistical AND running challenge.  This 204 miles of straight running will be unlike almost anything I have ever attempted.

Sign up and mention you saw the AOR form my page and every team member gets a free hat!

And I don't mind saying I am a bit nervous.

If anything comes close to comparison to what I will be undertaking in April, it will be my 84 mile run in 12 hours at the Presque Isle Endurance challenge.  Then again, that is only about 40% of the total miles of the relay. But it still makes for a cool picture to see where 84 miles in a straight line will take one from the strating point!

The thing which worries me most is the weather or the unpredictability of it.  The AOR was run last year on what is one of the best times of the year to run such a race - late Spring in south central Pennsylvania onto DC.  Of course, this weekend was the same weekend of my infamous meltdown at the Kentucky Derby marathon. 

If the repeat were to happen (highly unlikely) I know I would be in some trouble.  But these are the things one must prepare for - the unlikely or unexpected (although, if you prepare for the unexpected is it unexpected?)  Either way,  I am starting to get excited.  With my Rocky Raccoon 50 mile race in two weeks and my attempt at completing my first full 100 miles (in very fast fashion) on the horizon in March, I have the ability to test myself with the higher mileage races.

And that is what this challenge is about: testing the unknown.  if i knew I could do it, the challenge would be less daunting.  When people ask me if I am going to do the 52 Marathons in 52 weekends again, I first try to shake the dumbfounded look off my face and then tell them there is no reason.  Half of the point of me doing it in the first place was I had no idea if it were possible to run that many marathon consecutively at the speed I ran them.  Now that I know, it is time for bigger challenges. Like 204 miles all at once.

Bring it on.