This is it! Barry and I drove up to the DC area last night for my first 50K tomorrow. It’s finally here and it’s feeling more real. This morning Barry and I headed over to The North Face store to pick up my race stuff. Packet pickup was a breeze, but I still managed to spend enough time in the store to purchase a new rain jacket. I’m freaking out about the weather tomorrow and my favorite rain jacket has holes in it from a recent tangle I had with thorns while running.

I’ve been trying not to fret over race day weather, since it is completely outside of my control. But I have been a bit worried about it (hence the impromptu jacket purchase – but I saved $12 with my bib!). Over the past ten days they have gone from predicting 50’s and raining to mid-60’s and sunny to 30’s and SNOW! Yes, snow. What. The. Heck.

Most recently, they have settled on mid-30’s, a rain snow mixture, and gusts up to 50 mph. I told Barry maybe the meteorologists are just rotating through all types of weather so that come race day they can say they were right no matter the outcome. All I can really do is make sure I bring the right clothing for the day.

Obviously this forecast has changed what I plan to wear. I hadn’t initially planned on wearing capris, but I will be now. I don’t mind them, I just had it in my mind that I would wear my fun, purple shorts. Boo.

I realized, though, that this weather forecast is only fitting  for my first ultramarathon. I have a history of crazy weather anytime I try something new. This is a photo from my first trail race:

2014 Green Legs & Hamstrings Trail Half – the overnight freak ice/snow storm

When it comes down to it, I’ll just deal with whatever race day brings. Everyone is dealing with the same conditions. And it’s an ultra after all… we wouldn’t want it to be easy.

What are the worst race conditions you have ever dealt with? I think this will be my first super windy race