c'mon taper!

Somedays my blog writes itself; that is exactly what happened his morning - while running.  I went on my last long run on Saturday (14 miles) and it was HOT and sticky.  We did 7 miles on the road and 7 miles on the trail with the thought being that it would be shadier on the trail and a good switch up for our legs.  Yes, that was true, but we spent 7 miles in pretty direct sunlight without much shade and it took its toll on us for sure.  Normally I wouldn’t bring 2 water bottles for a 14 mile run, but since it was my last long training run I thought it would be good prep, so I did and was very thankful that I had both water and an electrolyte drink (that I did share).  This was a bit of a rough run, though we didn’t talk about it until after we finished and then we shared how tough it actually was.  We laughed at knowing that even though we both felt shitty that we kept the appearance up for each other that it was OK, because it was. I felt done at about mile 11, but I’ve trained for 17 weeks and wasn’t about to blow the confidence that I have been building during the last 3 miles. Ok so you see where I'm going with my Saturday run - not the best ever and not the worst. 
 
Sunday I always take the day off to rest, minus that this Sunday was Mother’s Day and my sister wanted to take a walk with her munchkins – sure I’ll take a walk in my vans – bad move.  We walked the rail trail near her house getting 2.4 miles in and as many of your probably know vans are great lounging hangout footwear, but they are not sneakers and they hurt my poor little pinky toes like nobody’s business. 

Ok still with me?  I didn’t sleep well Sunday night and woke up Monday tired and really not wanting to do much of anything – especially going for a run in the pouring rain.  I skipped it – it’s Monday whatev, I have the rest of the week to work it out.  Woke up this morning to rain showers again and was so comfy cozy.  I wasn’t into it again, but the difference between yesterday and today is my rule is I never take 3 days off from running in a row (and this would be day 3).  The second conundrum is if I want to take Friday and Sunday off then I need to run today to get my days in this week.  Boooo! I sucked it up and got out of bed, found some clean running clothes, grabbed my ipod and my hat and went out.  I cursed in my head all the way up the street and then it switched  - just like that.  Yeah it sucks getting up when you’re tired and have to go to work in an hour and a half, but I have worked unbelievably hard and I am going to be at the start line of the KBVCM knowing that I trained my best e v e r yday, because I did. 

The bargain that I made with myself to get out the door was that I just needed to get 5K in.  A mile and a half in and I started to think strategy for the last 5K of the marathon because I would be tired and should have some sort of plan.  I approached the rest of the run by embracing that yes I am tired and that is why this is the start to my taper. On my way home I felt strong and fast and the voice that tells me “I’m tired” was finally silent.  I got my 5K in and I’m happy with that.  After months of training and logging every single mile I am ready to take the taper in, get some rest and get to the start line. 

“That which is dreamed can never be lost, can never be undreamed.” ― Neil Gaiman