THOU SHALT BE A COMEBACK

7:55 AP.  Taper week.  I always struggle during taper week.  Took it easy on my dirt roads at home and finally nailed the last .34 miles at 5:33 pace to get rid of the sluggish fat feeling.  It helped.  Looking forward to a little miniature track session tomorrow too put a little zip in my legs.  I am thinking the 5x1000 meters at half-marathon pace with 200 recovery as suggested by Bonnie.

7:45 AP.  Dropped Vanessa off with Brandon, jogged from there to the track 1.92 miles, and then did 5x1000 meters at half-marathon effort with 200 meter recovery.  I was focused on relaxing and not overdoing the workout and boy did I get relaxed.  I was really trotting lazily along and went a little too slow on the middle intervals but oh well!  It still felt good and was a good enough stimulus for my legs!  Jogged back for a cooldown.  Paces were 6:56/7:12/7:05/6:56/6:46

7:31 AP.  Went and ran with the GoRun group and had good conversation with Lacy, Zach, Jeremiah, Eddy, Barry, and Tony.  Randy gave an excellent presentation afterward on running form and efficiency and we all got up and did some drills, mostly involving dynamic stretching.  I enjoyed the bounding and skipping.  There was a huge group, probably around 50!  Great times!  I didn't feel sluggish today.  I am starting to feel eager to race.

8:16 AP in Sienna Ranch.  Nice little shakeout before the 10 hour drive tomorrow. I felt fat and sluggish at first but by the end of the run felt great.  Typical taper run(well, typical run really!).  I am ready as I will ever be.  My strategy is to go out real slow the first mile while this shin/knee thing warms up, then pick it up to freedom pace+holding back slightly, then pick it up to true freedom pace at the halfway mark, and then go to the well for the last 10k.  Hopefully I get a PR out of the deal but I do want to enjoy all the sights and sounds of my first big city marathon experience.

Got up and went downtown to watch the USA half marathon championships.  It was very exciting!  I got some great pictures and video of my favorite runners and felt inspired to run well and give it everything I have tomorrow!  I caught Nan briefly afterward(GO NAN!) and she was sweet enough to pose for a picture with me and wish me luck.  It was a good thing my friend Amy was with me to give me a push because I got shy and on my own probably wouldn't have talked to anyone.  Afterwards I ran for about 20 minutes in the park across the street.  Looking forward to meeting Joe and Danielle this evening!