Tomorrow is the last long run with the Want2be’s before the Seattle Half Marathon, which is next weekend.
This means that over the last 3 weeks or so we’ve started to taper. It seems like it’s been a longer taper than most, and tapering always makes me nervous.
Even though training for this race has been long, and I’ve ran the distance (and over the distance) probably 4-5 times over the period of the 5 or 6 months we’ve been training, I still always feel like I’m “losing” my strength and speed. These last few weeks seem more like a psychological test rather than a strength test. My brain is fighting my body. My brain says “Hey! You’re going to lose everything you’ve worked so hard for if you don’t keep logging those long kilometers and you’re going to FAIL at this race if you don’t get out there and push push push!” but my body says “Yawn. I’m tired. Time for a rest now and where’s my beer?!”. I guess it means I’m ready for the race, but this brain of mine is really doing a number on me.
Runner’s World has a good article on tapering (it’s for the marathon but the rules can apply to half’s as well). The biggest keys they mention for the last week before a race is that your mileage has to drop to new lows and should be slower than usual. Focus on your confidence. Nerves are normal but try to remember that all the work you’ve put into training and preparing WILL pay off (this is easier said than done). They also mention to not try anything “new” – no new foods, no new activities or treatments…just keep things plain and simple.
Keeping things plain and simple for this race might be a little difficult for me though. Since we’re going to Seattle, a city I love dearly and wish I could live in, I’m going to want to see and do a lot. Also, it will be Thanksgiving weekend in the United States which means SHOPPING. Well, it technically means giving thanks, of course, and spending time with family, but we already had our Canadian Thanksgiving so screw that! I’m going shopping! Friday and Saturday will be hard for me, since I’m going to have to limit my walking around downtown. I’m going to have to plan out a route between my favourite shops (All Saints Spitalfields, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie etc.) and pace myself. Luckilly we are staying until Tuesday morning so I can get my shopping needs filled (and my credit card filled) between the race and our departure on the Clipper. We also are renting an apartment instead of staying in a hotel. We did this when we ran the DisneyLand ½ Marathon in September 2011 but stayed in a house that time. It was probably the best trip I had had in a long time and the only way I want to go on longer trips from now on (other than all-inclusive holidays). When we stayed in Anaheim we were able to get our own groceries, cook in our own kitchen, float around in our own pool and have multiple bathrooms, bedrooms, and a sitting area. It was much more comfortable than a hotel and we didn’t have to share it with hundreds of other tourists. We also saved a lot of money by not eating out for every meal, and since we were running (and we are all picky about what we eat before we run), it worked out perfectly not having to look for a coffee shop that was open at 4:30am. Hopefully this time around will be the same – just knowing that we have a “home away from home” as our base instead of a hotel is definitely something that calms the nerves. I highly recommend using something like VRBO or another vacation rental company.
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| After the run we walked back to the house where I immediately jumped in the swmming pool still wearing my clothes and medal |
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| Dusty and me with Minnie Mouse! |
So back to running – this week and next will be fairly busy – but I’m hoping to get a few more quality runs in before we leave. I do TRX twice a week and will keep that up, but I don’t think I will keep my physiotherapy appointment. She is really giving my legs a lot of work when I see her, but I am quite sore afterwards and don’t want to risk it next week. This past week I ran with the Want2Be’s on Saturday out in the North Saanich area. It was a COLD morning (I think about 2 degrees) and everyone’s feet turned into solid ice blocks. We warmed up quickly though, running along beautiful farmland roads and along small winding roads along the waterfront. It was quiet and all you could hear was our breath and slapping of running shoes on the ground, or the crunch of huge orange fallen leaves beneath our feet. The rolling hills throughout the whole run provided a good test for us since Seattle is supposed to be quite hilly too. It was a beautiful 13km. I skipped my Monday run to visit my NEW NEPHEW who I could just gobble up because he is so baby-licous, but had TRX on Tuesday, ran a ladder workout up Amity Road (a killer hill) and had TRX on Thursday. Tonight I am celebrating the end of a mentally tough week (read: emo) with girlfriends and sangria, and tomorrow I will be running with the Want2Be’s out in Oak Bay. Sunday I might run again with my dog who apparently had decided his life’s mission is to eat every single roll of toilet paper he can get his mouth on, so I think he needs more exercise. Woof.
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| Massive leaf from last Saturday's run |
