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

Well, That Run Sucked

Tuesday I ran after volleyball. It was the worst run I've had in months.

Take this post with a grain of salt...I'm officially tapering.

I met Elizabeth straight from practice so I didn't stop home. I had my running bag with me, but after being away all weekend I'd emptied it out to clean things, so I was missing my headband, my phone armband, and my good running socks.

During practice, I was jogging around gathering volleyballs and felt a sharp twinge in my left knee. Then, I got a weird, achy feeling in that butt cheek.

I was wearing a pair of shorts that are kind of loose for practice, so when I got to the park with Elizabeth and realized I didn't have my armband, I had to fit my phone into my back pocket. It bounced and jiggled and basically pulled my shorts down the entire run. So I was mooning traffic for half the run. I knew this wasn't going to be a good one.

If you Google-image search "worst run ever", a bunch of race pictures come up of people who look totally fine...I'd hate to somehow find my picture with that tag!

I have a persistent knot in my back that started aching; we were going to do 5 miles and I decided to see how I felt after three.

My calves were rocks by mile two.

Then, as we were nearing mile three, I started getting sharp, shooting pains in my inner-right ankle. (I think I was overcompensating for the knot and the achy butt cheek and the bouncing phone, and ended up running with some weird gait that cause ankle pain.)

So we called it at 2.8 miles. I couldn't even finish three. I know this was just a bad day with myriad factors I can work around next tine, but taper makes me hyper-paranoid and now I can't stop thinking about every single ache and twinge!

It was also one of those runs that made me step back and go, oh right, things out of my control may happen and then this race won't...so it's time to walk on eggshells and not get cocky!

This week we have our second volleyball game, and then I'm traveling for work Friday, so I may not run again until the weekend. Maybe that's a good thing. But I don't want to taper too drastically!

Wednesday, to take my mind off it, I cooked the giant eggplant a student brought me. (Those of you who follow me on Instagram saw the picture of it on my desk. My principal - whose daughter is in my homeroom and plays on the volleyball team - got it from a friend but doesn't eat eggplant, so her daughter brought it to school for me. The kids spent all day touching it and carrying it around like a baby. Middle schoolers are weird.)

My kids' reactions were priceless, but to be fair, it is a weird thing to see on a teacher's desk!

I used this recipe (whose author, I just realized, is named Ali too. Weird) and made eggplant parmesan.

I've never made it before, and it was a hit! Matt and I are both super happy with it. It takes a ton of work, but it makes a lot and it's so yummy!

Oh hey blurry crazy-face!

Plus, all that cheese is a great comfort food while I'm emotionally crazy tapering.

Please tell me everything is going to be okay! I have 10 days before the marathon and I'm freaking out!

Thoughts on my new blog layout? I want it to look more centered, but not cluttered!
ABK

My Plan for BDR

Based on my paces during my 20-miler, and keeping in mind that I know how hard the last 10k of a marathon is, I've put together a tentative plan for marathon day. Usually I set A, B, and C goals only, but this time around I wanted to add a pacing plan.

Miles 0-13: 12:30-12:40 pace
Miles 14-20: 12:20-12:30 pace
Miles 20-26.2: 12:00-12:30 pace

I honestly think these paces are doable, but my biggest concern is actually being able to get faster in the last half of the race; I need to be mentally strong enough to ignore my achey legs at the end! If I successfully keep to the higher end of the spectrum for each set of miles, I'll finish in 5:17, which would be a 24-minute PR. It's not as lofty a goal as I originally set, but I think based on my training, it's realistic.

Last Wednesday, I started at a conservative pace and then ran faster as I warmed up. During the hardest part of that run (when I was running into the headwind on the second loop), I was running a 12:07 pace from miles 11 to 17, and it didn't feel too bad. At times, I dipped into the 11s, and even the 10s.

I don't know how to race a marathon, so this will be a chance for me to practice what that feels like. If I want to be successful, I have to avoid pushing too hard too early; I need to go easy and conserve energy so I don't fall apart at the end.

Anyway, I'm not aiming for a sub-5 this time around. My plan for 2016 is still to focus on speed and shorter distances, but I know a longterm goal for myself will be to break 5:00, and I know I'll be able to do it eventually. It won't be this race, and that's okay; running is a lifetime journey, and I know I'll get there in due time.

(During a long run this fall, I envisioned myself crossing the finish line in 4:59 and I got choked up just thinking about it. I'm not giving up on that goal, but realistically it's not in the cards this year.)

This year, I want to be smart and consistent. Last year, I went out way too fast. I was also dehydrated from cold medicines and had lingering asthma issues to contend with, but I'm not making excuses. I know this year I'm in better shape, but it's also going to be warmer.

(This year's 20-miler was 10 degrees warmer than last year's...so, yeah.)

So basically, I'm aiming for a PR, but I've finally learned that I won't get faster training for a marathon without a better base and stronger effort geared directly at speed. Cautiously optimistic is the name of the game this time around.
How do you decide on your race plan?
ABK