cheryl

Not much running today.  I've decided I'm going to experiment with tapering this go around, since I've never really had any system for tapering before.  I'm going to try an aggressive taper where I really cut down on mileage.  We'll see if that makes any difference in the race.  So today I went to the Rec Center at 5:30am and did a circuit training class there.  Then later I took my dog to the canal road and ran for probably two miles at the most.  I intermixed running with walking.  Kind of enjoyed having an easier day.

I went to the track at 6am to meet our running group.  We did a workout I found in a book by Matt Fitzgerald.  Actually, I modified it because it didn't seem like it had us doing enough.  We ran a 1200, my time was 5:37; then an 800, time 3:45; then a 400, time was 1:41.  Then we ran a two mile tempo run on the road.  My time for that was 16:02.  Then one more 400 on the track, time again was 1:41.  That's the first track workout I've done in a while, it was kind of fun, but I was worried about pulling something the entire time.  Fortunately, I don't think I did any damage.  I wouldn't mind doing more track work after the marathon.

Treadmill day--I ran about 4 miles, throwing in some fast one minutes  along the way.  I really didn't want to do it when I started out, but once I got warmed up it was actually kind of fun.  I just wish it didn't take quite so long to get warmed up.

Met with the group today at Bingham.  We did another workout I found in a book by Matt Fitzgerald--I like him, by the way, and would recommend anything he has written.  We first ran for approximately 1 mile easy, then headed into a 15 minute tempo run up Canterwood, down Rustic Roads, and back up Rustic Roads.  Rustic Roads has a nice hill on it that I like (it's really the only hill of note close to Bingham) so that's why I like to run it so much.  We recovered for about 5 minutes, then it was off for another 15 minute tempo.  I felt really good during the run and hope I can feel exactly that way during the marathon, for all 3 plus hours of it.  What are the chances of that?  Anyway, it was a nice run on a nice morning with nice people.  What more can you ask for?

No real running today, though I did go to the 5:30 class at the Rec Center.  I'm giving myself 2 miles for that just because I don't want to see a zero in my mileage for today, and plus I figure each 30 minutes of any kind of cross-training has to count for at least 1 mile of running.  We rode the bike and worked on lower body strengthening.  I felt remarkably good all day today, my "issues" (you know, the glute and hamstring things) didn't bother me nearly as much, I wonder if all that moving about and stretching, etc. makes everything feel better.

My boy had an early football game, so I had to put off running until a little later in the day.  When I did get going, I had a really good run where I went for 60 minutes, with 1 minute fast intervals thrown in.  It was fun, things felt good (after the first 10 minutes of so) and I wish that's all I had to do until SGM.  Just a few more days before the real taper.

By the way, I was perusing thru other blogs, and I liked all the mentions of "only" having to run 10 or 15 miles and getting to sleep in until 6:30 or 6:45.  We're crazy, but I'm happy to be affiliated with all the craziness!