Taper and travel

Race day is coming up quick. I should be hydrating, getting enough sleep, taking it a bit easier at home instead I am a road warrior this week. When it comes to my work travel schedule I have some flexibility. However, because my current study is slow (I'm not maintaining the required number of monthly visits as set by my company) I'm having to cover other visits/help where needed. Unfortunately, I don't get to say "no" about these visits or plan them according to my schedule. Last week I was volunteered/told I needed to cover a 2 day visit in Little Rock. Yeah, I already had an overnight trip planned to Minneapolis Monday / Tuesday. So now I find myself traveling Monday through late Thursday then I plan on putting a half day of work in on Friday then hitting the road in my car to make the drive to Cleveland.

Definitely not what I had planned for this week and it's not ideal but I am trying to make it work. I'm hydrating even more than normal because of all the flights and trying to find healthy eats. My hunger is in full force so the one positive of all this travel is my work has to pay for my food ;) I'm not sleeping as much as I should or able to get all the miles I should but otherwise the taper monster is staying at bay. I guess I'm too busy to freak out! I hope this means only good things for race morning in Cleveland.

taper randomness

T -2 days and (approximately) 18 hours until marathon #5! Here's the taper randomness happening bullet style...

• taper crazy didn't set in until Tuesday. I was talking to my friend who had no idea I was running a marathon on Sunday and something clicked along the lines of "crap, I didn't realize how close the 16th and running a marathon really is!"
• I don't know what it is about the week before a marathon but it's the week I finally get around to getting a haircut. My last one was right before Chicago in October (yes, I tend to go 5 to 6 months between haircuts) and I had a PR. Maybe it's good luck or something! Or maybe I finally get so annoyed with the mess I realize I'm not going to be able to take 26 miles of heavy hair on the top of my head.
• I'm crazy anxious about this race. Even though I know the course, am going home to be with family and friends, and have done this before I can't help but think my training wasn't enough, my times were a lot slower this time around, I could have been better with my food choices, so on and so forth. My anxiety symptoms are coming through full force - insomnia, night terrors when I do fall asleep, nausea, stomach pain, etc. I'm doing everything I can to calm down!
• I really hope I can get some sleep in the next couple days I think that will make all the difference.
• 2 runs done so far this week. An easy 6 and a what pfitz calls a "dress rehearsal". It was 7 miles with 2 at race pace. My legs struggle to find my desired pace. They kept moving 20 seconds too fast!
• I have 2 short runs left to do. Since Friday is a travel to Ohio day, I may skip one.
• Today is my Friday at work. The day can't end soon enough...
• Saturday is a big pasta dinner at my dad's house with family and friends running the race. I am so excited! I love running races with and supported by people I know and it happens so rarely.

There are a lot of us running this weekend. Since my taper brain isn't focusing on anything I can't imagine trying to link everyone up. Good luck to everyone - you know who you are! I'll be thinking of you while I'm out there on the course in Cleveland and looking forward to reading your reports as I recover from the couch.

***I forgot to mention I have bib #2498 this time around. There is live marathon finish times up on clevelandmarathon.com on Sunday if you're feeling the need to check on me ;) I'll also update FB right after I finish I'm sure!

taper crazy's continue

Here I was rushing around this morning to get everything done before my flight and now I find myself delayed at least an hour. I love text updates from United when they come before I even leave for the airport! Not such a fan of the actual delays but it worked in my favor today. Now I have time to write a blog post before leaving :)

First we'll start with the hair. I can't say I'm in love but it's much easier and lighter on the run. Now I don't have 2 lbs of hair smacking around on my head and falling out of the hair ties. Added bonus, I now use half the shampoo and no more neck pain/headaches!

So before in all its hot mess glory. Please ignore my messy bedroom in the background ;)

And after nearly 6 inches shorter and a 1 lb lighter!

I'm feeling the taper this week. Very, very antsy. I waiver from excitement to nervousness, to being scared, to anxiety, back to pure excitement. Monday was a rest day and I didn't know what to do with myself all day. Luckily we were meeting the hubs friends in the burbs for dinner so that killed a few hours. Tuesday was a recovery sixer. Not sure what I was recovering from but that's what we'll call it. I kept having to pull myself back as the cool weather and well rested legs were making it feel too easy to go, go, go. Today (Weds) I had my "Dress Rehearsal" per Pfitz. 7 miles with 2 at race pace. Nervous? Yes! I'm still doubting myself and my "A+" goal race pace. However by mile 6 I was feeling my runners high and had some super positive thoughts happening. And proof I was one happy runner who's ready for anything Sunday....

I returned home from the run to find these waiting for me at my door...

The in-laws sent good luck flowers! How sweet! I love gifts and don't get them nearly enough ;) It's nice to be remembered just because I'm the crazy girl in the family who is running another marathon. No one may understand but at least they are supportive!

Alright off to Birmingham for one last trip this week (if it ever takes off!) I have another rest day tomorrow and it feels weird not packing running shoes/clothes. Now I have that much more room in the bag to go shopping at the mall across the street ;) Let's hope there is not a repeat of the last time I was trying to get home from Birmingham (stuck in the airport for 7 hours) and I make it back Thursday night, get enough sleep, then hit the expo Friday!

Brooks Running Apparel (I splurged!) and Review

Let the countdown begin... 19 days until Cleveland

This week I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to travel for work on Sunday.  I absolutely despise flying on Sunday for work seeing as the weekends are so short already and I'm really not a huge fan of my job. I ended up not arriving to the hotel until almost midnight so I scratched the waking up early Monday morning running plan and took another rest day.  My quads were still really sore from the 20 so I rationalized it was needed.  Although when I arrived home last night I had a nice little package waiting by the front door and my plans for rest nearly changed.

A week and half ago the online shopping bug hit big time.  I made a substantial purchase on brooksrunning.com of which nothing was on sale but everything I had to have.  Two tanks (one to support breast cancer research), a freaking cute shirt, another shirt just because, and shorts (I'm on the hunt for the perfect pair for me on long runs).  Once I unwrapped all my goodies faster than a kid on Christmas morning I nearly went for a run despite my exhaustion, hunger, and the pouring rain.  In the end the weather and my hunger won and I stayed home to inhale leftovers and watch Heroes.  Never one to deny myself too long I had to try out the new shorts (it was too cold for any of the tops) on my easy, peasy 4 miles this afternoon.

First thing I noticed when I opened the package - there's no drawstring!  Weird, because the picture of the pacer short has a drawstring.  Whatever.  According to the description this is an updated "creep-proof" short.  I could use a lot less creep in my shorts.  No seriously we all hate picking the shorts out every few minutes on the run.  And with my larger than life thighs this is a little too common with running shorts.  The shorts are incredibly comfortable and stretchy. No pulling on my hips or hugging my thighs.  That's a plus in my book...  They worked well enough on the run.  The right leg started as a creeper shortly into the run but then I didn't it stopped and behaved after the first mile.   I'll try them out on different length runs but I don't see them being my new long run shorts which was my hope and desire in the initial purchase. Now I need the warmer temps back to try out the other purchases!