Yeah…I hit that this Sunday. I’m back up to 1.1 miles barefoot out of every run I do. I’m not risking any more with this little marathon looming in ….yep…less then two weeks.
My taper is going ok. This training cycle has taken a lot out of me…as in…I am so OVER training right now. My longrun last week was a mere 15 miles at marathon pace. I almost hit it. The pace I need to hit to run the race in my goal time is just so damn awkward for me. Basically I’m taking every run till the race and doing marathon pace runs..just to finally nail down that pace. And honestly..I still don’t think it will happen. I’ve almost resigned myself to that thought..but you never know come race day.
Alright…I’m back off to crawl back under my taperrock…peace out.
Showing posts with label taper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taper. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
21 Miles Brings the Taper
Anyways…so it’s over…the hard part..except the race of course. I planned 20 for today, finished 21 because I just hadn’t had quite enough of the 38 degree weather and howling winds. What the hell is wrong with me anyways? But for miles 9-12 there was a stellar dude making the same laps I was doing in the park….but in a wheel chair. And I thought to myself…how can I complain…even in my head…when that dude would probably kill to be able to run this 20 miles I’ve tied myself to for today.
Long runs make me grumpy. Skip being gone, my physical exhaustion and my kids being…well..themselves is just a recipe for a bad time. I have a pretty low bullshit tolerance to begin with and when they act like morons when I’m already tired…it’s not pretty. But tonight rejuvenated all of us. I took everyone down to Kenosha so V could play in the band with Papa at a nursing home. Dominic stayed with them and hung out with Grandma and lil T and I went to see her oldest friend. I don’t know that I’ve ever mentioned her…but there is a very wonderful woman that has been in my life since I was 15 and her name is Jackie. I got pregnant with lil T while Jackie was pregnant with Marty…so they were destined to be friends you see. And they have been. Jackie babysat for lil T from the time she was very small until she went to preschool at 3 years old…and our babies were stuck like glue the entire time. Lil T used to pick out Martys clothes every day when she got there and she has always led him around like a puppy…not in a mean way…..she adores Marty and he her. Circumstances being what they are and life just getting in the way…well..the kids haven’t seen each other in at least a year…and tonight we remedied that. T was a bit shy at first…but not Marty. After about 10 minutes it was like the last year or so didn’t exist and they were the same loving little kids that they always were to each other. Just beautiful to see…and I’m resting so happily tonight.
So the taper…yeah…I haven’t really tweeked that out yet…but I am sooo ready for a break…at least from the big ones. The totals you ask…or not? Two 20 mile runs, one 21 mile run, one 22 mile run and a 24 mile run. Total miles for this cycle…438.86…with 3 weeks left. Five runs at 20 plus miles…yeah..I think I’m ready.
22 days
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Ugly long run and the Taper plan
Why are my long run days ugly and cold…and the day after…it’s beautiful and sunny? And why am I such a tightass that I won’t adjust my long run days when I know this is going to happen?
It was miserable out yesterday. I hit the road by 7AM and wanted to turn around by the time I reached the end of the driveway. With that being said…the fact that I completed the 13.1 miles is actually pretty good. I ran to the lake and back..and also hit Shopko so I could pick up New Moon for the kids. All the while I was heading east with snowysleet pelting me in the face, I kept thinking how this was my last REAL long run before the half…until I started doing the math in my head and realized that I actually have two more….a 13 plus next Saturday and a 10 miler the following Saturday. I’ve decided to start my taper after my long run next weekend. Cut my mileage by 25% the first week…and by 50% the week of the race. Keep my intensity up…but mileage down. That’s the plan…nothing loose about it. Most of my big taper week I’ll be out of town so this shouldn’t be too difficult….someone remind me I said that. Training/running has completely taken over my life…or as much as it can for a working mother of three. I eat, drink, and sleep running. I don’t think about much else…I analyze race strategy…plan my runs…go to bed WAY early. I’ll almost be happy when this is over…and I can go back to a more enjoyable running existence. My 3 other races I have planned for this year don’t require much. A 5K, a 10K and a 10 mile…no big….nothing past the 4th of July. That is…of course…as long as I don’t get a bug up my butt and decide to throw my hat in the ring for a fall marathon…but that is NOT in the plan.
Today was great! I met J and Traci at Lake Andrea and we did race distance….5K. That was the first time for either of them and they held up well. We ran 3 and 2 so they were able to complete it….and they were tired. Not to mention…it is ALWAYS windy out there for some reason….so that last mile was a bitch. Their assignment for the week is to run at least 30 minutes..2 other times…but try to increase the run/walk ration. J and I have a date to get her some running shoes on Thursday….her feet and knees are bothering her and I’m fairly certain it’s due to the fact that the shoes she’s been running in are older then my first born. I’m thinking we’ll try 4 and 1 next Sunday. I think I am more excited for them then I am about my half. By the time of this 5K my half will be 2 weeks behind me….and I will be able to run this…hopefully score a new PR…and watch these incredible ladies finish their first race. I plan to go back after I’m done…and run behind them screaming until they finish. Maybe not screaming…but running with them. I’ve explained what will happen…they know the coarse….they’ll be with friends…this should go off without a hitch. Can’t freakin WAIT!
In other news….there is no other news…and isn’t that grand? Just sitting around waiting to hear about Katies big run!!!
It was miserable out yesterday. I hit the road by 7AM and wanted to turn around by the time I reached the end of the driveway. With that being said…the fact that I completed the 13.1 miles is actually pretty good. I ran to the lake and back..and also hit Shopko so I could pick up New Moon for the kids. All the while I was heading east with snowysleet pelting me in the face, I kept thinking how this was my last REAL long run before the half…until I started doing the math in my head and realized that I actually have two more….a 13 plus next Saturday and a 10 miler the following Saturday. I’ve decided to start my taper after my long run next weekend. Cut my mileage by 25% the first week…and by 50% the week of the race. Keep my intensity up…but mileage down. That’s the plan…nothing loose about it. Most of my big taper week I’ll be out of town so this shouldn’t be too difficult….someone remind me I said that. Training/running has completely taken over my life…or as much as it can for a working mother of three. I eat, drink, and sleep running. I don’t think about much else…I analyze race strategy…plan my runs…go to bed WAY early. I’ll almost be happy when this is over…and I can go back to a more enjoyable running existence. My 3 other races I have planned for this year don’t require much. A 5K, a 10K and a 10 mile…no big….nothing past the 4th of July. That is…of course…as long as I don’t get a bug up my butt and decide to throw my hat in the ring for a fall marathon…but that is NOT in the plan.
Today was great! I met J and Traci at Lake Andrea and we did race distance….5K. That was the first time for either of them and they held up well. We ran 3 and 2 so they were able to complete it….and they were tired. Not to mention…it is ALWAYS windy out there for some reason….so that last mile was a bitch. Their assignment for the week is to run at least 30 minutes..2 other times…but try to increase the run/walk ration. J and I have a date to get her some running shoes on Thursday….her feet and knees are bothering her and I’m fairly certain it’s due to the fact that the shoes she’s been running in are older then my first born. I’m thinking we’ll try 4 and 1 next Sunday. I think I am more excited for them then I am about my half. By the time of this 5K my half will be 2 weeks behind me….and I will be able to run this…hopefully score a new PR…and watch these incredible ladies finish their first race. I plan to go back after I’m done…and run behind them screaming until they finish. Maybe not screaming…but running with them. I’ve explained what will happen…they know the coarse….they’ll be with friends…this should go off without a hitch. Can’t freakin WAIT!
In other news….there is no other news…and isn’t that grand? Just sitting around waiting to hear about Katies big run!!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
The taper...and another baby lost.
So they’re calling for a boatload of snow tonight..but so far..nothing. I’m hoping it will hold off so I can get my run in…..things are going well and I don’t want to lose momentum. My half is officially 60 days away and it’s got me thinking about a little word that’s new to me…and that word is ‘taper’. Do you have to do this for a half or is it really only needed for a marathon? The longest race I’ve done to date was Lighthouse last year which was 10 miles. So many things were wrong before that race…and the only thing I really remember clearly is my knee feeling like crap and not running for about 2 days before the race. I’d lost a ton of mileage over that winter and had only run 10 full miles twice before race day. Now that’s more than many of the half training plans I’ve seen…but between my knee going to shit and general mental unpreparedness..everything just sucked. So I know I have other readers besides my lovely ladies that comment….and I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on a taper before a half? Do you decrease mileage or long runs in the weeks leading up to it? Or just go light a few days to a week before? I’ve done some reading and have mixed reviews. Anyone? Anyone?
In other news…there was ANOTHER co-sleeping death in southeastern Wisconsin..and AGAIN…they had another child in bed besides the poor baby that died. That is either number 5 or 6 since right before Christmas. Do these people not read? Do they not listen to their doctors? After the second one they read about…or the third…or maybe even the FOURTH…wouldn’t you pause and say..’hey..maybe this isn’t the best idea?’ Prayers for that little angel..and the others that she’s meeting today….ugg.
In other news…there was ANOTHER co-sleeping death in southeastern Wisconsin..and AGAIN…they had another child in bed besides the poor baby that died. That is either number 5 or 6 since right before Christmas. Do these people not read? Do they not listen to their doctors? After the second one they read about…or the third…or maybe even the FOURTH…wouldn’t you pause and say..’hey..maybe this isn’t the best idea?’ Prayers for that little angel..and the others that she’s meeting today….ugg.
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