Ten More Sleeps...

With only ten more sleeps to go, I would be lying if I didn't say that I am starting to feel nervous. Don't get me wrong, I am still thinking positive and I know in my heart that I WILL cross that finish line. But, I am still a bit sceptical on how I will add an additional 10k on race day to my longest distance to date. Supposedly adrenaline will carry me through, that or that I will be so delirious that I will just keep going. Left, Right and Repeat!

So, it is now Week 17 of 18, I have technically begun my taper. For those who don't know ... Tapering is a term used in endurance sports and basically means to reduce an athlete's training load before a major race. Personal experience and scientific research have both come to the conclusion that a period of enforced rest before racing significantly increases the athlete's level of fitness and boosts his performance by an average of 3%. Reducing weekly and long run mileage during these final two weeks is vitally important so that you will be fully recovered from previous workouts while at the same time, be completely rested for the big event. For marathon runners three per cent boils down to being about 5-10 minutes faster over their racing distance.
TAPER = LESS RUNNING, LESS FOOD AND MORE WATER (One thing I learned from my last taper is if you don't watch how much you eat you can gain weight on your taper. ARGH!)


At 8:30pm tonight, it was still raining, the kids were in bed and I even had my pj's on but the guilt got the better of me. Tonight I am suppose to be running the last night of my speed work.
Ok. Ok. I am going. I got changed into my running clothes and shoes. I headed down to the dungeon to run on the treadmill. Treadmill really isn't that appealing anymore unless it is snowing outside. Plus there is no longer a TV downstairs and the playroom is in dire need of a good cleaning. (Don't look at the mess Megan - Just ignore the mess) I ran the first 3K warm up and was about to call it a night, just wasn't feeling it, but then I thought to myself what can I do to keep going hmm... NICOLAS!. So I paused the treadmill, ran up to Nicolas room and said "Wanna be my stop watch?" "sure?!?" he replied. It's amazing how much faster and determined you run when you have your 12yr old son sitting their counting down the minutes and seconds you have left to go. No slacking off with him around. Guess all that Cadet training is paying off. Long story short, I clocked 9K and ran the track 22 laps and 14 of them at 5.0min/km. My speed work is now done for the day HURRAY no guilt and to top it all off it was actually quite nice to do with Nicolas. I wish he would come for a run with me again. (Even if I can't keep up with him). :)

Guess it's time for bed.
Till next time,
Meg
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