Sunday, December 6, 2015

Take That, Taper!

After Tuesday's run sent me into panic-mode, I was excited but also nervous to run Friday. I was really hoping all those mystery pains were just a fluke.

I started with some dynamic warmups and stretches. Then, I began my run at a slow, easy pace. I had a random mix of music playing, and I just concentrated on letting myself warm up. It was chilly and had just finished raining, so the weather was comfortable and clear. I felt good.
The two drops in pace around mile 2 were when my ankle "blipped" a teeny bit. I was able to figure out the cause and still finish strong!
A couple times, I did notice a...blip...in my ankle, but I quickly realized that what was causing it was a kind of "flopping" of my foot; as long as I maintained form, I felt great! So great, in fact, that my "30 minute test run" became five miles and included the bridge. I just didn't want it to end!

I finished feeling like I had showed taper who's boss!
Music of the Night came on toward the end of my run, and I began composing an essay in my head about the symbolism of the Phantom vs. Raoul. I mean really, the entire thing is about innocent, "pure", childlike love versus lust. Which probably isn't news to anyone who's a fan of the musical. Anyway, my thesis was that Christine chose the wrong man at the end, because choosing Raoul shows us that she's stunted due to her father's death and has never fully matured into an adult woman.

But, choosing the Phantom alone would have been all about lust and fulfilling fantasy and desire, without any solid emotional foundations, which would have doomed the relationship. So really, she should have just chosen both and had some brother-husband style polygamy going on. Right?

Taper is literally making me crazy, guys.
Except in this case, it was Phantom of the Opera.
Am I the only one who mentally writes literary essays while running?

Sunday I ran the second 10 miles of Kristin's first 20-miler for my last long run. I changed how I had tied my new shoes so they had a firmer grip on my heels, and it worked like a charm; I didn't have any pain, and it was so rewarding to be there for her through that milestone!
So much for sticking with a 12:30 pace. I'll do better next time!
We celebrated with breakfast at Skillets. Usually I go for the gluten free waffle, but I really wanted to try an omelet this time...which was fine, because Kristin's husband shared some of his waffle with me, so I had the best of both worlds!
I had this huge southwest-style omelet and grits, plus 1/4 of a chocolate-chip pecan waffle. YUM.
After breakfast, Matt and I drove to Cape Coral to check out the race route and parking situation. It's going to be pretty tricky for spectators to meet me on different parts of the course, but we have a week to figure it out so that hopefully I can at least see people a couple times on each loop.
Those blue areas are water, so it's basically impossible to cut through the middle of the course or take a shortcut.
This week, I'm planning two easy, shorter runs. I talked to Megan a little bit about what I should plan this week, and I've decided that three days of rest sounds good, especially because I'll still be up on my feet all week teaching.

(We also have two volleyball games, but that means we only have one practice, which will be easier on my legs and feet since I'm allowed to sit during games if I want, even though I rarely do.)

I'm so excited! I feel like training for my second marathon is finished and was successful! I didn't get injured or sick (fingers crossed...I have 7 days to go)! With that accomplishment under my belt, I feel pretty good about race day! Even if it doesn't go as planned, completing training itself is a pretty big deal.

Speaking of plans...I've already set my pace goals, but here are my other goals, broken down:

A: Break 5:20 (follow my pace goals as outlined in this post)
B: Break 5:30
C: PR (break 5:41)

And of course, finish upright and uninjured, and preferably at a run!

Does your mind go to weird places while you run?
How was your weather this weekend? We've had tons of clouds, wind, and rain, but it's still fairly warm. I've resigned myself to a warm race, and I'm hoping I'll be able to power through.

ABK

18 comments:

  1. Yes, I think you are the only one who writes literary essays on a run! I did not know you liked Phantom! But then again, who doesn't like Phantom? It is one of my favorite musicals to sing from because I have a lyric soprano voice to it goes with the songs. Unfortunately, most of the shows/roles I would like to play do NOT go with my voice. There's no lyric sopranos in Cabaret, Rent, or Jesus Christ Superstar. :(

    If you have a specific spot you want Kristina and I to be on the course, let us know! We can be strategically placed so you don't have to see a big group of us at once but more spread out.

    I'm glad you're taking 3 days off! My trainer friend always says, "If you have the balls to take 3 days off, do it!"

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    1. I love Phantom, Les Mis, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat, the Secret Garden...I do love musicals! I can't sing to save my life...I sound more like Valjean than Cosette. But I still sing along!

      I think I'd like to look at the map and put people around miles 7 and 9, but I want to make sure everyone has time to get back to the finish line before I cross! Last year Matt missed me crossing because he wanted to be at mile 24 haha.

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    2. Wherever you want us to be we will be! I'm so excited for this weekend!

      During my run tonight I was actually thinking about how I had not yet looked at the course map in depth. Thanks for posting it! I'm hoping to take a look at the course (or at least part of it) on Saturday!

      I don't create essays on the run but I do write speeches, and I also come up with in depth arguments for or against certain topics.

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    3. I'm currently examining the map to figure out where Matt should park to be where I want along the course!

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  2. I'm so excited for your race. You are so ready and I'm certain what you felt in your ankle was just the taper crazies talking to you. Nice job listening to your body. So glad the new shoes seemed to help! Hang in there, you're almost there! Eeeeee!!!!

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    1. Thank you!!! I'm so excited too...I'm feeling mostly good. Some moments I'm full of doubt and then others I feel like WOOHOO I'M GONNA DOMINATE. Again, taper talking lol.

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  3. I'm so excited for you for this race! You've had a good training cycle and it sounds like you are well prepared. I'm glad you're feeling better about the taper and are ready to go into this last week strong and confident.

    I love that you write literary essays on runs! I definitely compose rough drafts of sorts in my head while I'm running. Sometimes I come up with really good arguments that I then have to struggle to remember until I get home!

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    1. YES! Sometimes I think of really good plot lines for my fiction, or good lesson plans, or whatever, and then I totally lose it as soon as I stop running haha.

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  4. Yup, I write all kinds of essays in my head while running.

    You sound great! Glad you figured out the shoe/ankle thing. You're going to do great!

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  5. Glad your ankle is feeling better!

    Honestly, I love my taper runs. They weren't ALL great, but I had some of my best runs during the last couple weeks of taper (the first was awful though). The hay is in the barn and your body is catching up on rest, so you can finally start to enjoy the fitness gains you've worked so hard for 15 weeks to build. There were so many taper runs where I went out for an easy run only to find out later that I had hit my goal MP for a few miles even though my effort was easy. There's really no better feeling than that (except, of course, crushing your marathon!). Have a GREAT race week!!

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    1. I think this may the first time I've fully, truly tapered the way I'm supposed to. I don't love it. My legs are feeling more lethargic than they felt at ALL during normal training. I have no idea why! It definitely messes with my head, but I know there's a purpose to taper! I wish I had your experience lol.

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  6. Sorry if this posts twice, I'm having computer issues ;). But, I was going to say that I'm so excited for you!!! You not getting sick or injured during training is pretty amazing too. You're going to do great! Can't wait to hear all about it. Good luck girl!!

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    1. Thank you!!! I'm pretty impressed with my immune system this time around!

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  7. Hahah yes I think you are the only one I know who writes literary essays in their head while running. I love when my mind goes to weird places when I run because it makes the miles go by faster!

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    1. It definitely helps to have that kind of distraction!

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  8. I'm so excited for you! Sounds like the taper process is going well, though I can't say I've ever written an essay in my head while running :P. I know you can make that A goal, I'm rooting for you!

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    1. Thanks Janelle! It was a new experience for me, too haha!

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