Since Angie and I are training for a 50k and a Marathon this spring, we are at quite high mileage and h ave been training since Christmas. We are also going to do a birthday run for Angie tomorrow. Being the lady that I am, I won't tell you how old she is going to be. . . . but I will reveal we have a 30 miler planned for the day! Since we have a very long run planned for tomorrow, we have tapered over the last few weeks. Last weekend our long run constisted of only 10 miles. Our week day runs over the last week were only a 4, a 3 and a 2 miler. In a sense, the two miler seems like a waste of clean running clothes! Is working out for less than 20 minutes really working out?
Angie and I had to run our last few long runs solo as we both had some things going on which kept us from doing our runs together on the weekends. When I ran my 10 miler last weekend I was tired and didn't really feel like running, so I just picked an out and back on a nice trail that we've been waiting to open up all winter. The trailer is paved, so it is essentially road running, but it's fairly hilly which will be helpful for our 50k training. Although it was simple and I didn't have to think about it, the run was challenging because of wind and hills. I ran into the wind on the way out, so the way back was much more enjoyable.
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| Can you see the hill involved here? It's a bit of a climb! This is a portion of the route from a 1/2 marathon we did last year. |
PRO'S:
I know taper is great for my body. To force myslef to take it down a notch and allow for some recovery is essential in injury free long distance running.
Taper also means more quality time at home with our kiddos. Since Angie and I are both full time working moms, we have learned to take advantage of the time we have with our kids. Running does cut into that time on Saturdays, especially when we are at high mileage. We are gone much longer!
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| Secret Agent Jackson, protecting me through Hobby Lobby! |
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| Jackson and his cousin Lydia swimming! |
Althought I felt ready for a taper to free up some time and have a little bit of a break, I have been taken over by an enormous amount of exhaustion and inability to get myself motivated. I have studying to do for a test at work and I had some free time this weekend (since I didn't run at all) and I could only manage to squeeze out about 2 hours of studying. I find it terribly difficult to do anything but lay on the couch and watch crap tv. . . . not only do I feel tired and unmotivated, but then when I realize how unproductive I am, I feel even worse!! I am a task oriented person, so when I do nothing, I feel awful. Knowing that I did nothing yesterday or today I can hardly imagine running 30 miles tomorrow.
Today I'm exhausted from doing nothing. . . . . tomorrow I will be exhausted from running 30 miles. I'd rather have he later of the two. . . .honestly!
Angie and I have been obsessing over the weather for tomorrow (not that we ever do that!), and it's supposed to be total crap. Cold, Snow, possible sprinkles and WINDY. WTF? I've just about had it with this weather. Back in January we thought there was NO way the weather would still be our biggest challenge in April. Say a prayer to the running Gods for better than expected weather! This is supposed to be a fun Birthday Run!
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| Proud of Mama's Race Medals "Mom, I winned!". . . . I took them away after this so they don't get broken before I get them hung up!
What do you find is the best and worst part of tapering?
If you know her. . . . wish Angie a Happy "30 mile" Birthday run! I'm excited to spend many hours with my BRB. . . we haven't seen each other much so we have LOT'S to catch up on. I'm exctied to get out of this taper slump and spend Angie's birthday together.
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Happy Running
~Brooke~
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