I’ve been waiting a long time to say this…..

IT’S TAPER TIME!!!

And from what I hear, this is inevitable:

So this is what the past week looked like:

Sunday, February 2nd-Rest Day. I foam rolled and rested from the previous day’s long run.

Monday, February 3rd-Cross Train. Typically, I get on the bike but I decided to switch things up and spent some time on the elliptical. 5 miles. I also did a Blogilates abs video.

Tuesday, February 4th-I’ve dubbed this day 10k Tuesdays as I’ve been doing 6.2 on these days the past few weeks. This run particularly felt AWESOME. I don’t know what it was; I felt good the entire way. Last week when I did these 6.2 miles, I felt the same and had a great time. I have no idea how I did better today but I did!

Top: 1/28
Bottom: 2/4

Wednesday, February 5th-Speed Work. Wednesdays are track days so that’s where I was. My husband left out of town for work earlier but I was fortunate that my brother was visiting and he baby sat while I ran. It was extra motivation to go faster to relieve him lol!

Thursday, February 6th-Blogilates Abs video. I typically cross train but couldn’t make it to the gym since the hubs was away. I did a different video than usual, a more difficult one, and boy did I feel it the next day.

Friday, February 7th-Rest Day.

Saturday, February 8th-TWENTY MILES. Yes, today was that 20 miler in training plans. I was actually pretty pumped to do this. I had everything ready to go in the morning so I wouldn’t be rushed. There were quite a few in my run club who were also doing 20 miles and some had gone at 5 to get a head start. I knew I’d need that extra hour of sleep so I began at the usual 6 a.m. and planned to run on my own.

We run along a canal and we started south which is what I prefer. I decided that I’d split the twenty so that it wouldn’t get boring–6 miles south out and back for 12, and 4 miles north out and back for 8.

The first 6 went pretty smoothly. I absolutely love love love my Ultimate Direction hydration pack. I’m able to carry my phone, car keys, and my fuel with ease and with no discomfort. At mile five, I sent my husband an update and at six is when I broke open the Gu and had a bit.

Six miles was the first turn around point so it was nice to have reached a target. I felt breaking up the 20 miles really helped me mentally. Realizing this, I made mini check points that would continuously help me have something to look forward to. I’d fuel every 4 miles after the first 6, I’d send an update to my husband every 5 miles, and I’d have the turn around points.

So at mile 10, I had a little more Gu and I updated my husband. At mile 12, I reached the beginning of the 4 mile out and back point. At mile 14, more Gu. At mile 15, updated my husband. Mile 16, turn around point. Mile 18, more Gu. Mile 20, DONE!!

yay!

I was shocked at how good I felt and wished the marathon would’ve been today. I hope hope hope I feel this good on March 1st.

My goal was to stay around 30-45 seconds over my marathon pace of 10:00/mile and not stop. I met both goals 🙂 I do think that my marathon pace is pretty lofty. I mean, I felt good the entire way of this 20 miler but thinking of having to average 30 seconds faster makes me pretty nervous. At the end of the day though, all I’m looking forward to is finishing. I don’t have a goal that I’d be devastated not meeting. I think that’s important for first marathons (or first races in general).

–How was your running week?

–Do you make a goal for every race? (I try not to but I alway do lol!)

–Are you a good taperer? What tapering advice would you give me?