Western States and the Dark Tower

A week from tomorrow and it's game time. What is kind of eerie is that where I'm at mentally for the Western States 100 very much parallels a character in a book I'm reading. I'm almost done with the seventh and final book of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series. Roland of Gilead's journey has been long to find the Dark Tower (all seven books worth), and with just several dozen pages left, he is apparently almost there.

We both share a sense of anxiousness that the moment is nearly at hand and the long wait is nearly over. We have both overcome obstacles and triumphs along our paths, and I can totally relate to his character in a way that is scary. Being that this is a Stephen King novel, that could be perceived as a negative, but it's not, at least for now. I don't know how the book ends, so it's hard to say if I want to stay on the same track as the main character for much longer.

From here on out it's obviously just tune-up runs, just as they have been the past week and a half. Felt great on today's run, and had a nice progression throughout, hitting a sub-7:00/pace for the last two miles overall. The legs are feeling just how I want them to and next weekend they'll get there biggest test yet. Sweet.

Ran 5.6 miles @ 7:24 mile pace.
AHR/MHR - 157/170
Paved and dirt roads.
Very hilly.
Lower 60s, light mist to start, overcast.
Shorts, short sleeved shirt, cap.