Crow Pass Number Five!

About to fall asleep early before my 5th consecutive Crow Pass race tomorrow morning.  It's been really interesting to see how much different my approach to this race has been this year compared to last year.  Not to say that I'm not taking this race seriously and not planning to push myself as hard as possible tomorrow, but last year this race was different than any I had ever run before or since.  I went into it with so much focus and determination, not unlike an ancient warrior going to battle, knowing that it might be their last battle.  I actually went into this race last year not certain if I would ever race again.  

Tomorrow though things are a lot lighter.  So much so that earlier this week I had a few different times in which I made plans for this weekend back in Juneau, forgetting completely that I'd be up here running this race.  I think a big part of my laid back mindset right now is a response to Western States.  I spent so much time focused on that race that I really think I needed to run this race low key like this.  I'm sure I'll slip instantly into serious race mode at about 7:00:01 tomorrow morning, but right now, 9 hours before the race start, I'm about as relaxed as I've ever been about an upcoming race.  

It's really nice to be like this.  It almost feels like cheating.