Will Run For Ice Cream

It's such an ugly word. At first I thought I would look forward to some rest. But as the final week of the race is here, it is becoming clear that the ' taper ' is truly an ugly word. And I've had a few moments of just feeling this huge overwhelming fear that I need to be out there running.. something.  Apparently I'm not alone in this feeling. I came across this article from Fleet Feet Sports Tips For The Taper . It helped re-assure me that I need to trust the taper. It also helps to remember that the dreaded 'taper' is also part of training. So I reminded myself that I am still training for the marathon. I am just at a different stage of the training program. And this stage is very important. Recovery is a necessary part of training.   By this time next week, I will hopefully have completed my 2nd Marathon!! 

Well, today was my last run before the marathon. One more day, and then it's 'the day'. I'm a ball of excitement and nervousness. Tomorrow I will decide for sure what I'm wearing and get everything all laid out for Saturday morning. I took the advice of friends and decided to carpool. I'm riding down with someone who is doing the Half, and plan to ride back with Hubby and Lil Man. I'm a little nervous about getting there later than I had planned on, but I've been assured by my fellow running friend that we will be there in PLENTY of time. So I'm going to go with it. :) I've been told that nervousness is normal - major anxiety not so much. I'm more on the nervous side of things verses anxiety. Think of me as a cool breeze on a hot summer day. Ok, that's taking it a little far. Just think of me as not huddling in the corner crying I can't do this. I know this run will be full of emotions. I know I will cry. How much and how often ...

I'm ready - mentally that is. Physically, well, not so sure. But mentally, I'm ready. Am I nervous? Well yeah. But I've finally got my head in the right place. Now I just need to keep it there for the remaining 6 days and through the race. I am strong. I am determined. I am stubborn. I am powerful. I am not a quitter (maybe a whiner - ha), but not a quitter.  " A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao-tzu"  I am ready to take that single step. 

I can't say this was a GREAT run, but it left me with a feeling of accomplishment that I finished it. I did 5 hilly miles this morning. Glad I tested out the Ipod that went through the washer. After 2 weeks in rice, it was working again. It took a charge. It played music. However, the volume doesn't work. It's 'stuck', and it's stuck on a very loud volume. So it was a good thing that I tested it before race day. One more LR (8 miles) then a couple of short runs... then 26.2. We are having scheduling conflicts with my last LR. So I'm considering a late afternoon run tomorrow. I don't usually like running in the afternoon/evenings. But if I can get my LR in tomorrow, that will free up Saturday morning. So for now, that's the plan. I'll drop Lil Man off with Hubby, and I'll get in my last LR. The time is counting down...

I know that a lot of people deal with nerves before a marathon. I feel very unprepared (which I know is also normal). But I also know that missing some key runs probably really does leave me unprepared. I did a hilly 12 miles yesterday. It was harder than I had hoped. I think partly was that I'm just really tired of running in the cold wind! And my stomach wasn't playing too nice. I'm officially on the 'taper' of the training plan. I have a couple of short runs this week, an 8 miler this weekend, a couple of short runs the following week, and then it's race time. I think I might puke. I keep telling myself that this race has NO time limit. I can do this. Hydrate, refuel, walk as needed. Just keep moving forward. Don't over think it. Have fun! But right now, I'm just really nervous!