Mondays....gotta love "em

     So this is race week! I am cutting down 40% on each run so I did 6 miles today. It felt easy and I think my body is rebuilding and maintaining the peak...although all the Christmas cookies I ate yesterday didn't help! Oh man! My Mom-in-law can really make delicious cookies and I just kept popping them in....one after another! I could feel those cookies on my waist today!

   Tomorrow no run...maybe some outside work around the property but no cardio. I haven't really established any race goals. Since a PR is out of the question because I am older and slower it proves difficult to nail down a goal. I guess to try to be competitive in my age group but some of those guys are fast! Hope you are well! Peace!

Week one Taper in the bag

    Today was a great day to run outside-45ish-gray skies-slight breeze. I managed 6 X .25 repeats with a 1/2 of a tenth rest. My pace was probably too fast but my body felt like running.
  I ran 24.4 miles this week and this reflects the cut down to 60% of last weeks mileage. My plan is to continue the taper with a 40% cut down on the next three runs. I will run Thursday instead of Friday next week, too.
   My training program consists of only 4 running days per week. This is due to the aging issues and increased need for recovery. However; my miles are higher on these days so I can still get 40 miles in! Well I sure hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Merry Christmas! Peace!

Wet cold recovering

    The weather is not conducive for an enjoyable run. If it were 80 degrees I might enjoy the drizzle but it's cold! So I hit the treadmill and knocked off a mid-distance pace run-60% of normal was 4.8 miles. This distance seemed so short! I managed to relax into 6.5 mph pace and loved being done so quick! I have been hungry, and I can tell my body is positively responding to the cut down.
   Most the soreness in the legs, hips is gone. I feel good! I hope I can manage the taper where I continue to feel the body strengthening but don't get stale. It's a tough balance.
   Tomorrow is speed work and I only have 3.6 miles slated! That will be over before I know it....
 Hope you are warm and dry! Peace!
 

No monkey wrench!

     No! I will not catch this creepy cr$#@y crud that everyone is getting! Oh my goodness! The coughing sneezing and hacking! I've tried to be diligent in hand washing but this morning I awoke with a sore throat! I ran anyway!  It is now gone!
   It was about 43 degrees with a gentle south wind. Skies overcast...perfect for running! The 60% cut down taper called for a 6 miler at medium tempo. I took a hilly route and man I ran strong (for me).
  I am excited about the prospects for this upcoming race! Well hope you are well! Peace!
  

Taper trials!

     There is much discussion about tapering, the hows and whys are the most oft discussed components of tapering.
    The seasoned runner has learned (but maybe not retained) how to listen to their body. Thus with 13 days until the race I have noted that my body is extremely stiff and I need to rest just a tad in order to be properly primed for the race.
  Therefore, this week I will cut-down to just 60% of last weeks miles. Then next Monday I will assess the condition of my body.
  So I ran an LSD run of 10 miles today-60% less than last weeks run. I will rest tomorrow and then run 6 miles on Wednesday. Hope you are well! Peace!

Two weeks-

    I have trained hard and smart this cycle. I finished this week with 9 X .5miles with about 40 seconds of rest in between each segment. Totaling 6 miles. I finished this week with 40 miles. That's the most I've run in months!
   Again, I feel good, fit, and ready to run a race in two weeks. Now for a "smart" taper!
  Hope you all are well! Peace!

Day 16

      So today I managed 8 miles @ 9:39's. I feel like a well oiled machine with all systems go. I truly have no idea how fast I can run this HM. The last one was slow but it was for all participants because of the hills. The race is flat and fast. I really ought to be able to run a sub 2hr HM so I am planning on racing.
   Tomorrow I have 6 miles of speed wok slated then the taper begins. My taper plan is to keep the same workouts but lessen the distance.
  Extreme cold is on the way! Let's have some Winter fun! Hope you are well! Peace!