Friday, April 26, 2013

Tapering On

9 DAYS.

Wow, this marathon is going to be here before I know it! While it seems that Friday took FOREVER to get here this week at the same time I am amazed that we have entered the single digit countdown to the NJ Marathon.

After the Asbury Half on Saturday, I decided to take ANOTHER unprecendented rest day since my hip was bothering me during the race (who am I?). But all seemed to be fine. I think it was mostly shoe choice that day. Noted.

I am trying to be really smart during this taper. What does that mean? Well, let me tell you!

This means that I am not going to go and do "extra" workouts. While this marathon training cycle the only "plan" I technically followed was for long run placement (I will let you know how winging it for a marathon goes soon enough...) but I am following a "plan" for the taper.

This week, I have only done the prescribed (okay, kind of a lie) runs. I did eek in a few extra miles but honestly I want to keep this weeks mileage around what next week will be WITH the marathon.

Went a little something like this:
  • Monday - 3.15 miles @ 9:02 pace
  • Tuesday - 7 miles @ 9:20 pace
  • Wednesday - cross train + lift
  • Thursday - 6.32 miles @ 9:29 pace
  • Friday - 4.26 miles @ 9:23 pace

On tap for the weekend = 8-10 miles tomorrow and then a 5K on Sunday.

Should hit the mid 30's this week which is perfect for me leading up the week before.

Minus Mondays miles having my legs feel completely and utterly dead, every other run my legs have felt refreshed and ready to just go go go. A nice feeling to have going into the marathon.

And it's not even getting a big all star section, just a note: stomach = fine. (insert happy dance and knocking on wood and continuation of eating the same things over and over).

The only thing I will say is that while for the most part my runs have been energized, I have been feeling pretty lethargic.

I miss two a days.

And also, what do people do when not working out both before and after work? This extra time and stuff...confuses me. Sleep? Be social? Relax? I just don't know what to do with myself it seems so abnormal.

Yes, I am aware that I 100% have issues.

But I am trying my best to not over exert myself and go into this marathon being smart. Results of said experiment in being smart will be seen soon enough.

Hope everyone had a fantastic week and is enjoying this almost warm spring weather!

Does all the extra time during taper drive anyone else crazy?

2 comments:

  1. The first week I kind of like it, although I feel like it means I'm totally unprepared (obviously this is inaccurate, scientifically). Since I've only done one week tapers, I don't know how I'll feel in that second week!!

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  2. Enjoy the time. I love nothing more than completing a morning workout and then having the night to do WHATEVER. Catch up with a friend you haven't seen...watch some TV...clean your apartment...get to bed super-duper early after reading a few chapters of a good book. Enjoy the time and you'll start appreciating the workouts even more. Same goes for just at night. ENJOY just relaxing in bed. It's a luxury!

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