THOU SHALT BE A COMEBACK

7:51 AP.  My running partner bailed on me at the last minute but it was still a pleasant solo jaunt.  18 degrees at the start but no wind so pleasant.  I started running around town until the sun started to rise and then went on my dirt roads.  I'm loving running in my new shoes.  I kept the pace casual and didn't look at my watch.  The pace progressed naturally on its own and looking at my splits later was surprised to see a 6:53 at the end.  It felt easy!  I wore my arm sleeves on my calves and I think that tiny bit of compression helped both my shins and calves immensely, so I am going to get some compression sock thingys that the running stores have now.  

Go Arizona Rock n Rollers!  Go Eddy go Eddy go Eddy go!  This is my dear friend who has lost over 110 pounds and is going to blast the 3 hour barrier today! Go bloggers Marathon Dreamer and Jeff!

So, in the interest of kicking off my taper, I didn't run today since I ran 18 yesterday.  Here is a tentative taper plan:

M--off, Tue--4 mile warm up then 10x1 minute off/on, cooldown W--6 easy with the GoRun group(running clinic afterward!), Th--15 easy with last 2-3 at MP effort if feeling good, F--6 easy, Sat--10 easy group run  Sun--off

M--6 easy Tue--5x1k at HMP w/200 recovery Wed--6 easy, Thu--6 easy Fri--off Sat--2-4 easy to shake off nerves and cobwebs Sun--race

7:58 AP.  Treadmill.  Vanessa wanted to tell knock-knock jokes during some fast parts.  I am happy to report I can gasp "who's there?" at 6:00 pace.  35 minute warm up at 8:34 pace.  10x1 minute on, 1 minute off.  All minutes off at 8:34 pace.  Minutes on at 6:18/6:15/6:15/6:11/6:11/6:07/6:07/6:03/6:00/last 90 seconds at 5:49 pace.  Cool down to 8 miles total.  This was actually fun and went pretty fast.  Now I want to go run a 5k.  Shin stops bugging after I'm warmed up.

8:54 AP.  Despite the freezing rain and ice sheets for roads, I drove all the way to Northwest Wichita to run with the GoRun group and attend the seminar.  The run was dangerously slick and we stuck to the grass and leftover snow as much as possible in search of traction.  It was harder work than the pace indicates!  I slipped 3 times but only went all the way down once in grass and escaped unharmed.  I sat with Lacy and Angela afterwards and did a little catching up.  The seminar was excellent and I am looking forward to attending again next week when the discussion will be about form and efficiency.  The guy doing the presentations is a physician and avid runner and has a lot of very interesting things to say!  Drove home very slowly and made it in one piece.  This was the maiden voyage for my Mizuno Precisions but I can't judge them off that kind of run so perhaps when I am stuck on the treadmill today(snow day--kids are home!) I will try them again!

8:10 AP.  No school today.  Ice outside, kids inside.  So, as they sleepily watched morning cartoons, I hit the dreadmill, determined to do my last volume run before the marathon.  After a while, the kids came down and watched Avatar.  So, between the kids, the movie, and some music, I survived my record distance on a treadmill.  Took it very very easy as planned, slowly bumping up the pace 0.1mph every few miles, and then did the last two at 6:49 pace.  Shin slowly warmed up, although I am coming to realize it is more of a medial knee rather than a shin problem.  Whatever it is, it is very runnable and not getting worse.  Now my taper truly begins.  10 days.

8:46 AP.  Very relaxed.  Getting serious about this taper business.

8:13 AP.  HS course with Eddy.  Glad he's got his legs back!  Bracing myself for a week of taper madness.  I am doing a pretty dramatic volume reduction to stave off injury and get rested and fresh and I'm pretty sure it will drive me crazy.