Believe in the Taper

Monday kicked off taper week and my running has really slowed down in preperation for Boston, which always has the side effect of making me feel lazy, tired, and cranky.  It seems like this happens to everyone, but it never will stop me from tapering.  I really believe that progressively backing off your miles and intensity over the last three weeks will help start the race rested and fresh, and you will have the endurance to finish strong!

This is what my week has looked like so far:

Monday: 5 miles easy
Tuesday: 4 miles easy
Wednesday: Workout totaling 6 miles 1.5 WU, 3x1200 with 400 meter rest.  These were faster paced (around 6:40) but did not feel bad because there were only 3 of them.  Ran them on the road in : 4:59, 4:57, 4:54.  Felt great to run fast in my marathon flats.
Thursday: 3 miles easy

For the rest of the week:
Friday: 3 miles easy (on grass) with some striders after to make sure I don't lose my turnover
Saturday: Complete rest
Sunday: Easy 2 miles, a few striders
Monday: MARATHON!

For the last two weeks, I have stopped lifting but continued with ab work.  I have felt a few aches and pains in my legs, which always happens when I taper.  I have been making more of an effort to run on grass and stretch and ice.

Starting today, I will be eating pasta or other high-carb foods for dinner.  I feel most prepared for a race when I each so much pasta I vow to never eat it again.

 

Have been studying the course and telling myself those uphills are just little speedbumps!

The weather forecast has been very scatteered for Monday.  At one point, Monday was predicted to reach 80 degrees.  Not nice marathon weather.  I run well in brisk weather, so I am hoping for a colder day.  Right now, Monday has a low of 51, high of 70, a 30% chance of rain, and scattered thunderstorms.  I'm thinking of wearing a sports bra top instead of the usual tanktop.  The only thing I hate about that is you have to awkwardly pin your number to your shorts!

Click below to track anyone running the Boston Marathon, my bib number is 7149 if you would like to track me!
Boston Marathon Runner Tracking


Besides tapering and obsessing over the weather in Boston, I have been out and about Augusta.  Have been doing some fun outings, as well as applying for and interviewing for different jobs.  Tuesday night, Jordan and I took the dogs to my favorite park to run at.  There is a big dog park there as well.  Bruno was ridiculous and barked at everyone at first, then finally calmed down.  He was very friendly to all the kids who came to pet him.  Penny made me look like a fool.  We were walking together so nicely on the trail when she decided to start her laying-down-in-the-middle-of-the-walk routine.   She did this in front of a huge crowd watching peewee football practice and they were laughing hysterically when I had to carry her on the rest of our 'walk.'

the two most intimidating dogs at the park

Have any magic tapering tricks for me???

Taper Madness/ Good Luck!

This article perfectly describes the mental illness I am suffering from this week, Taper Madness.

Taper Madness

My Symptons:
1) Germ phobia - I ran to the bathroom to wash my hands when one of my students sneezed and snot went flying into his cubby.

2) Weather obsession - I check the weather forecast on my Iphone every 2 hours and have been doing this since the 15 day extended forecast became available.  I also check a few different sources, and pick the most favorable weather forecast at the moment and immediately tell my husband.  I make phone calls like "It will be 61 and just a 60 % chance" before I even say hello, like he is supposed to know what that means.  I have considered text messaging my meteorology major friend Chad for his prediction, but have refrained.  Barely.

3) Detail obsession.  Do I really need to write down every parking garage location in the city?  Yes.  Do I need Jordan to put down in writing for me EXACTLY what mile locations on the course he will be standing?  HECK YES.  Do I need to pick my flavor of GU ahead of time?  Yes, it's laying on my dresser.  Has been all week.  I have a morning routine scheduled down to the minute.  Completely neccesary.

4) Losing my mind.  One minute I am thinking back on how awesome my long runs were this season and smiling confidently that I will have a kick butt race.  The next minute, I see myself getting picked up my the sweeper shuttle because my hip injury flared back 200x worse than it has ever been.  The extra energey is slowing driving me insane, too.  During Show and Tell today, I grabbed my 4-year-old student's jump rope and demonstrated to the class how long and how fast I can jump rope, and even do a cross over.  I. AM. WIERD.

5) Race Gear has been on display in my bedroom for the past two weeks.  It cannot be folded or put away.  I try it on every few days and simulate running in place to see how I feel.

6) I have a slightly sore throat.  End of the world.  Have been chugging vitamin water, orange juice, and downing Zince throat lozengers.  I also think I keep imaging my hip pain coming back.


This is it!  Only two days away from the big day we have trained for the in snow, wind, and rain since December.  The reason why I have gotten out of my warm bed before the sun was up to put on my headlamp and vest.  The reason why I went to bed early, ate properly, and strength trained.  The reason why my weekends were not spent out in bars and clubs but around North Park lake for 22 mile runs at 7am on a Saturday.  I enjoyed training this season so much, especially training with all my friends and running buddies, many who I CAN'T WAIT to race with on Sunday.  We worked so hard for this day and I am excited to run Pittsburgh!!!



P.S. Current weather forecast is 61 degrees and 60% chance of rain