Collecting Laps: one lap at a time to 100: Week 1 RDY for U100, its showtime :

Collecting laps week 1, last training week for Umsatead 100 blog series.

Collecting Laps: one lap at a time to 100: Week 1 RDY for U100, its showtime

The hay is in the barn. The miles are in your legs. The plans have been made, audited, and finalized. Welcome to race week. There is no more training you can do that will make you fitter. The work now is to shed all stress, quiet your mind, and allow your body and spirit to reach a state of peak readiness. The goal of this week is simple: rest, trust, and arrive at the starting line healthy, excited, and confident.

This is part of a series of posts regarding how we prepare, plan, and train to complete the 100-mile Ultramarathon Umstead 100. Our series for this event: Collecting Laps: one lap at a time to 100. For all the ultrarunning series, here, follow the link. Training for a 100 . Alternatively, you can also follow our Podcast so you don’t miss the weekly summary post.

Think of yourself as an actor standing in the wings just before the curtain rises. You have learned your lines, you have rehearsed every scene, and your costume is on. There is nothing left to do but take a deep breath and trust in the months of preparation. This is the time to let all that hard work sink in and solidify. This is the quiet before the grand adventure.

Assessment:

Your assessment this week is purely mental and emotional. It is about loading your mind with the confidence and evidence you need to carry you through the toughest moments of the race.

Revisit Your ‘Why’: Go back to the very first exercise we did in Week 25. Read the reasons you wrote down for embarking on this journey. Reconnect with that initial spark of purpose. This is the fuel that will burn brightest when all your physical energy is gone.

Acknowledge Your Resilience: Think back to your single worst training run. The day you were soaked, exhausted, and wanted to quit but didn’t. Remember that feeling of pushing through. That memory is not a mark of a bad day; it is irrefutable proof of your mental toughness. You have been tested in the fire, and you did not break.

Remember Your Strength: Now, recall your single best training run. The day you felt like you were floating, where the miles came effortlessly. That was not a fluke. That was a glimpse of the fitness you have built. That strength is real, and it is waiting for you in your muscles and bones.

Planning:

The plan for this week is to actively not plan. The time for tinkering is over. Your job is to commit to the plans you have already made and to rest aggressively.

Final Team Confirmation: Send one last, brief, and simple message to your Crew Chief and pacers. “Everyone still good for Saturday? Feeling ready? Can’t wait to share the day with you all.” This is for reassurance, not for last-minute changes.

The Gear Freeze: Do not touch your packed gear. Your drop bags are sealed for a reason. Trust the decisions your past self made. Constantly re-checking and second-guessing only creates anxiety.

The Hydration & Nutrition Load: Your focus is on two things: hydration and simple foods. Sip water and electrolytes consistently all week long. Eat familiar, bland, easily digestible meals. This is not the week to try a new spicy restaurant or to eat anything that could possibly cause GI distress.

Rest Aggressively: This is your most important task. Get off your feet whenever possible. If you can get an extra hour of sleep each night, do it. Avoid all non-essential, stressful activities. Your only job is to arrive at the starting line feeling rested and calm.

Diabetes Learning Notes:

This is it. The final week is all about achieving maximum glycemic stability. Our goal is to hand our race-day self a body that is calm, well-rested, and has a stable, predictable blood sugar profile.

Your Final BG Check-In this week is to observe how your body is reacting to the final stages of the taper and pre-race nerves.

Are you noticing a slight upward creep in your numbers as your insulin sensitivity from peak training wanes?
Are pre-race nerves and excitement causing your blood sugar to rise? This is very common. Acknowledge it, and be prepared for it.

Your Pre-Race Stability Plan is about making small, careful adjustments and trusting your well-practiced routines.

Conservative Adjustments: If you are running consistently high, make small, conservative increases to your basal rates or corrections. The goal is not to chase perfect numbers but to keep things stable. We want to arrive at the start line with a BG between 140-160 mg/dL (7.8-8.9 mmol/L) with a stable or slightly rising arrow.
The Pre-Race Meal: Execute your practiced pre-race meal and insulin timing protocol without deviation. This is not the time to try something new. Trust the plan you have validated through months of training.
Final Supply Confirmation: Before you leave for the race, do one last physical check: Is my primary meter in my pocket? Do I have my low treatments? Is my pump screen on and visible? Is my CGM sensor communicating? This simple ritual calms the nerves.
Trust Your Team: You have educated your crew and pacers. You have given them the “T1D Cheat Sheet” and walked them through your protocols. They are your safety net. Trust that they are ready to help you. Now, you can relax and focus on the adventure ahead.

Good luck.

Enjoy every moment.

I’ll see you at the finish line.