I got up at 4:15 this morning, earlier than usual, and way before my alarm clock went off. Sometimes that happens to me, I wake up and I know there’s no way I’m going back to sleep.
About 5 minutes after getting up I was doing this, you know, for a change:
The usual please
Big cup of coffee and oatmeal muffin/bar/whatever you wanna call it.
Sorry the pic is dark, but it was dark. Don’t want any kids up at 4 o’something AM.
Lots of blogs to read while having breakfast, thanks for posting!
My next race, a 10K, is the following Friday, January 31st. So this morning was my last “real” run before I go into taper mode. A fartlek similar to last week’s, except this time I did the last interval just a bit faster.
Tomorrow is cross training day (swimming 3K/1.9M) and on Friday tapering officially starts, one full week.
I will still run, 4 times next week instead of the usual 5 times, and shorter runs than during regular training.
Overall I will reduce total distance by about a third, from 58KM/36M this week (higher than usual due to a long 25KM/15.5M run) to 38KM/23.6M next week.
Tapering scares me because I know I’m going to be in such a bad mood.
A message to my family and friends
On the other hand, I’m kind of looking forward to a bit of a rest for my legs. Am I a bad runner for saying that?!
I could enjoy this for a few days…
OK, last picture, I have to post this because it is so true. So I can remember what working out hard feels like. That’s totally me by the way. I’ve had this picture on the lock screen on my phone for ages:
1) Pretty much dying 2) Pretty much rock-star
Any good tapering tips?
2 Cups 'N Run 
Very true, except it’s hard for me to take it easy in regards to running, not only because I want to improve but also because I really enjoy it.
One of the reasons I LOVE training is because I get to relax like Homer afterwards 😉 Doesn’t make you a bad runner for saying that at all. Work Hard, Play Hard!
I, um, didn’t taper at all for my 10k last weekend. In fact, I did two tough workouts just two & three days before and went to the starting line sore. So, no advice from me.
LOL, so will you be tapering for your next race?
Um…. Well, the next goal race I will. I am treating a bunch of races as training runs up to my big event, a marathon in May that I’m hoping to qualify for the Boston marathon. That said, I don’t really tend to taper much for distances under a half marathon. I probably should, though. When I switch to trying to improve my 10k times post-marathons, I definitely need to change my pre-race taper habits.
Good luck for that marathon and BQ. I hope to get there some day too.
Enjoy the taper! Remember it’s good for you mentally & physically, and will help you PR in that race 😉
Anything that might help me PR I’m willing to do…
I wish I did this! I would sleep in any chance I could!
It is a nice side effect.
I for one, look forward to tapering. I can eat all I want, pig out and be happy and also get to sleep a little longer. But I couldn’t do that for long tho.
I think weekends are the worse, tapering a weekend, when you usually have long runs, feels like something was taken from you.
I wish I could eat all I want. I really fear getting to race day feeling bloated and like I gained 5 pounds. Agree about the long run! I’m doing 13KM/8M instead of a long run… better than nothing.
Good luck with the tapering!! Never my favorite part of training,but so necessary. I am with you – I become so cranky that I really feel badly for my friends and family. I try to get out of the house as much as possible by planning day trips or going to see a movie etc- mostly so that I don’t eat everything in sight with all that free time! I also take the opportunity to get to bed a bit earlier!
Yes to all those things you just said… maybe I can just sleep through the week? 🙂 I hope it goes by fast.