Pre-Taper Madness, Which Will Lead to Full-On Taper Insanity

I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but my fifth 20-miler is done. I ran 20 miles - FIVE times! 

I thought I would catch a break with the weather on these last two, but summer is still hanging on, and I ran those 20 miles Saturday morning in some of the most humid weather we've had all year. It wasn't super hot, but hot enough - almost 70, which, when combined with 96% humidity, feels completely and utterly disgusting.

Having said that, it was both my fastest and my best 20-miler yet. The goal was to run it at an 8:38 pace, and I managed 8:42. I'm ok with being a few seconds off my goal pace, because I know full well that the weather was a major factor.

And I'm banking on the fact that the odds are very slim that it will be that warm and humid the day of the race. I know the potential is there, because this is New England, and I am all too familiar with how fickle the weather is around here. But I'm hoping that by then, we will have moved past this tropical stuff for good, and will be blessed with cooler, drier air to run in.

Despite the rotten weather Saturday, it was a good run. I had some rough spots, and I was definitely getting tired at the end, but with every other 20-miler I've run, I'd finish feeling like there was no way in hell I'd ever be able to run another 6.2 miles. But this time, I felt like I could - like it would suck, and it would hurt, and I'd be ready to drop when I finished those additional 6.2 - but I felt like I could do it. And that was a really, really good thing.

I know my head is in a much better place now than it was a few weeks ago, because at mile 7, I found myself thinking "hey, only 13 miles to go!"

And unlike all the other 20-milers, I went a tiny bit further this time. Not that far - just half a mile - but pushing just that little bit past the 20-mile mark was a mental victory. I know everything after 20 miles is still going to be unknown territory for me come October 15th, but knowing I've gone even a teensy bit beyond that mark is somehow helpful.

The 8:42 pace felt pretty good. It was definitely challenging, but my body felt comfortable running at that pace. I honestly feel sometimes that it's harder for me to run the slower paces - it feels unnatural. When I'm running a little faster, my stride feels much more natural and less awkward, and I feel like I'm moving much easier along the road. 

I'm glad it went well, but I'm even more glad it's done.

I'm also extremely glad that this morning's track workout is done. 8 x 800 @ 3:25. I so did not want to do that, and was considering just doing 6 repeats instead of 8. But I knew I'd be mad at myself if I didn't complete the workout, and I was a few seconds slow on some of them, but I held on and got it done.

Tempo run Thursday, 13 miles Saturday at race pace, and then I'm officially tapering. I know it's going to make me crazy - I'm already feeling anxious and irritable! - but I'm also really looking forward to it.

I'm done with all this. I'm done with the 3-hour training runs, and the insane track workouts, and the 4:30am wakeups.

It'll all be over soon enough, though, and knowing that is making me both thrilled and terrified. Because once all this is done, I still have to actually run the race.

I've already begun a list of things I need to pack, and will start working on my playlist this week.

It seems unreal that it's so close. Two and a half more weeks. Seven more training runs. Wow.

Comments

[Wes]

nice work!! now we focus on getting those legs ready to race!

[Mom and Dad]

I'm getting excited for you Michelle and admire your determination to accomplish your goals..........