Oh how I love living in taper town! Well, I love it this time because I truly feel like I need the rest after so much running, racing and repeating over the past several weeks. Bring on the rest days baby!

WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2015

RUNNING

2 weeks to “A Race” aka the NYC Marathon…

Last Monday I was coming off a weekend of racing. I ran four races in three days, covering 26.2 miles and some pretty fast paces. If my coach was worried about having me in taper mode (and she was!) she had nothing to worry about. I was so ready, but it seems, my coach was not done with some tough workouts. Damn it!

At least my hat was ready for the week.

At least my hat was ready for the week.

Monday: Recovery swim, 1100 yards

This felt amazing! I loved being in the pool and doing a sort of mix and match workout with some kicking thrown in. Afterward I sat in the hot tub for as long as I could stand it. Pure bliss.

Tuesday: My final spin class!

I’m so good with it, and it was nice to get a bouquet of flowers from my two fearless leaders Char and Heather but, I’m still hanging around as a sub and I’m sure will do some other exciting things for the members once I’ve had some down time. Stay tuned…

Wednesday: At the track with 5 x 1km at sub 6 minute pace/effort with 500m recovery in between

Yes. This is what my taper week looks like people! Holy hell. CRS (coach rocket science) added this note to the workout: “Allie, this is a tough workout. Warm up well. Cool down, stretch well.” So that was scary.

Although it was most definitely more of a sub 6 “feel” I managed to get a 5:50 on the last set with the four others in between 6:00 and 6:10. I’ll take it.

This also happened:

That awkward moment when the high school gym class takes the in field and sets up for ultimate frisbee.

That awkward moment when the high school gym class takes the in field and sets up for ultimate frisbee. Luckily, I only had one set left, which may also be the reason for the 5:50 pace. #Motivation

Thursday: 45 minutes of pool running and a massage!

Now this is more like it! I didn’t even mind the 45 minutes of pool running because I had my trusty Waterfi music and the massage was so, so needed!

Friday: Rest

Hell yes! I actually kept forgetting I had a scheduled rest day during the week. I stayed in my pj’s until I had to head into my son’s classroom to help out at 11:15. Feeling like a true SAHM.

Saturday: 5K Time Trial

Here we go again! I didn’t even notice this until about mid-week but I sucked it up and got it done. After a 1 mile warm-up I was able to hold a 6:25 pace for 3 miles. I have no idea how I was so consistent, and I was just glad when it was over.

Sunday: 2 hour run with last 30 minutes at marathon race pace

I was so lucky to be able to do this last long run with some of my BRF’s, one of whom will be towing the line with me at NYC! We spent the first hour and half talking, laughing and running (in the rain) at around a 9:15 pace. I was so sad to leave them for the 30 minutes on my own but held onto a 7:25 for the last 3.6 miles and felt great.

Total mileage (including pool!) = 35

FUEL

“Nothing new on race day,” pretty much flew out the window for me during mile 8 of the Runner’s World Half Marathon last Sunday! I had some chomps in my back pocket but they were handing out Clif Gel Shots on the course. I have heard so much about how amazing they are so I thought “what the hell?” I grabbed a Vanilla one (just by chance) ripped off the top and just took a little taste, since I’m not that crazy, and WHOA! It tasted like the most delicious thing I have ever tasted! Obviously my body needed the sugar and electrolytes and I downed the rest of it as fast as my body could take it in.

Miles after ingesting a new gel for the very first time and feeling fine!

Miles after ingesting a new gel for the very first time and feeling fine!

I love that I tried in at mile 8 of the half because now I’m confident I can use it at the NYC Marathon! I will actually be looking forward to eating this and, as you know, you take all the little things you can get when staring down 26.2.

GEAR

I have so much new gear to try out after the RW weekend! I’m most excited about reading a new book from Rodale press (see below) and I’m really loving all the headbands – always my favorite!

Let there be swag!

Let there be swag!

I also need to rewind for a moment and tell you about two things that have really stood out since the Rise.Run.Retreat way back during the first week in October! Spandits and this pink thing that wards off attackers or just super annoying people – the Sabre personal alarm. I wanted to do a video demonstration of how loud this thing is, but I figured that would just make angry readers, so you will just have to buy it and see for yourself. I only wish I had this thing when I was running in the wild of New Hampshire all summer!

Don't let that sweet looking chick on the package fool you. She will make your ears bleed!

Don’t let that sweet looking chick on the package fool you. She will make your ears bleed!

And what can I say about Spandits except that just putting on their pants make me smile, they have an amazing company story and THE best ambassador in all of running in Jen of Running with the Girls. Seriously.

Ready for my 5K time trial!

Ready for my 5K time trial in my snazzy pants! Thank you Spandits.

THINGS I LOVE

Being less then one week from running one of the most iconic races on the planet. I’m seriously getting so excited! I’m reading a lot of race recaps and tips but mostly I’m thinking about how amazing it will be to run the NYC Marathon. Wow. Just wow.

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THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH

Feeling excited and completely overwhelmed at the same time. I know it’s mostly due to the race but once again I had an insane week of planning the Halloween guilt party and I’m now heading into my fourth week in a row where I have to pack, plan and navigate a four day week while solo parenting, all of which will culminate in me running a marathon. I feel like my entire life is a marathon right now, so it should be easy. #Whaaaaaaa

Evil Miles filling the piñata! Yes, we had a pumpkin piñata and didn't even bust it open since the kids had ingested enough candy by 5:30pm to last a lifetime.

Evil Miles filling the piñata! Yes, we had a pumpkin piñata and didn’t even bust it open since the kids had ingested enough candy by 5:30pm to last a lifetime.

READING

In addition to all the great things I’m reading about the upcoming NYC Marathon (a checklist to ward off taper crazies and everything you need to know about the race and expo) I’ve also been reading The Runner’s Brain by Dr. Jeff Brown. I was gifted a copy from Rodale press and I have to say that it’s not quite like other books I have read on mental toughness.

For one, the author is the head psychologist for the Boston Marathon. And no, he did not retain that post after the bombings, he’s had it for 14 years. Did you know there was a “head psychologist” on the Boston Marathon medical team? Me either. It only gets more interesting…

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If you’re so inclined, Dr. Brown and co-author Liz Neporent will be on a Twitter chat today, Monday, October 26th at 2pm ET. Here are all the pertinent handles and hashtags: @LizzyFit & @DrJeffreyBrown authors of @RunnersWorld The Runner’s Brain @RodaleBooks #ChatRW

[Tweet “How’s your mental game? #TheRunnersBrain with author @drjeffreyBrown 10/26 2pm ET #ChatRW”]

RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Me: How are you planning on spectating at the marathon?

My husband: “Like this,” as he rubbed his eyes, opened them, and stared at me. 

Jerk.

He will be sorry when he’s in a sea of 100,000 people who are all also looking for their runners. And he will have the boys.

Sometimes I think running the marathon is the easy part…

How was your week?

What is your favorite new piece of gear?

What is your workout plan heading into winter?

 

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