My marathon is in less than 2 weeks away so I’m in what is considered a “taper” phase. The training has peaked and now I start to scale back; both in mileage and intensity. In theory it’s so I’m rested and prepared for the race. In my reality it’s prime-time for freaking out.
Am I ready? What’s that pain? IT band, calf strain, tumor? I’m tired. I’m hungry, but I shouldn’t be hungry, I’m not running that much. Do my running shorts still fit? Am I drinking too much water? Not enough? Why didn’t I do more core work? Am I ready? Why did I do this? Am I ready????
At this point I have to let it go and trust in the training.
The Plan
I ran into a weather snag this week. It rained cats and dogs on Saturday morning so I only did strength training instead of run my usual 30 minutes. I tried to time my planned 16 mile run on Sunday around the weather report. I saw a gap of dry weather between 7 and 9am. The weather people lied.
I got 15 minutes into my run before it started to rain. It was just a sprinkle, no big deal. Then it got harder and harder still. At 8 miles I had to loop back home and change into dry clothes. I got another 3 miles done before I had to turn back again. I tried to wait out the rain and complete my remaining 5 miles but that 45 minute break was just enough time for my muscles to tighten up. At a half a mile on my 3rd attempt of the day it started to rain again. I said a very loud expletive and went home. I was done, it was not going to happen!
Even with the shortened run on Sunday I felt good about the week. Here’s the recap.
The Food
With a hectic schedule it’s easier for me to prepare and even cook dinner in the morning. It’s not uncommon for me to come home after boot-camp on Monday mornings and make a pot of soup, putting chicken breasts and salsa in the oven to bake and cooking a pot of pinto beans. I wouldn’t say I’m a great cook but I enjoy cooking and having healthy food on hand.
Plus, when you make the components of a meal, say the chicken and beans, you can do a lot with it. Make a salad or rice bowl for work lunch, tacos for dinner or even layer it in a dish with corn tortillas some cheese and salsa for a Mexican-inspired lasagne. My daughter complains that I don’t buy food. I tell her I buy ingredients to make the food. She’s unimpressed.
Yoga/Stretching and Body Work
Here’s the go to stretches and mobility work that are part of my regimen.
- The Couch Stretch
- Half Pigeon
- The “Four”
- Foam roller – hamstrings, IT band, quads, lower back
- LAX ball – Glutes (all over – focusing on tender and tight spots), hip area – insertion points, calf, feet and shins
- Pelvic tilts and leg crossovers for the Psoas
Some of these like the pelvic tilts, leg crossovers and LAX ball I do prior to running or my workout and the others for after running so it’s splitting these 6 things in half. Give or take.
This training week is light as is next week. Except for that marathon, that is.
Now go run!
Keli 🙂