Tapering Torture!

Earlier this week, I was pretty excited about the appearance of a 3 mile run in the schedule again. Its been a few months since we’ve seen the number 3 on our training calendars.


Yesterday was that elusive 3 mile run. We’re on week 2 of our taper and its been an interesting experience.

We were looking forward to tapering so much. After 9 weeks of increasing mileage, we would have 3 weeks of decreasing mileage leading up to half marathon day. Both S. and I were counting down the days until we hit that 12 mile run. Well, if you recall… that 12 mile run didn’t go so well.

Everyone has bad days, so we ignored that, ran an amazing 5k the next day and then began tapering.

For the record, let me say how much tapering sucks. This is my brief account of the past 11 days.

Monday - Rested. Legs are so tired.

Tuesday - Frustration! Made it 1.5 miles out of 4 miles. Turned around. I think I strained my hamstring

Thursday & Friday –Rest Days - strained hamstring.

Saturday – 9 miles today. Leg feels good!

Miles 1-3: We can do this!

Miles 4: uhm… it’s a little windy (turn around at 4.5)

Mile 5: WTF did that wind come from?

Mile 6: I quit.

Saturday afternoon: New Shoes!

Sunday – REST! Thank the LORD…. Ran Errands with the Fiance, came home with a Wii. Played Wii for 6 hours straight.

Monday – I am sore beyond belief from playing that stupid Wii. Today’s run is 5 Miles. First run with my new shoes. My calves are on FIRE. At least I finished it. Blog idea about barefoot running… never got to it though.

Tuesday – Whew, Another rest day. Pick up wedding cake samples.... Ate too much of it….Still Yummy.

Wednesday – 3 miles. This is going to be so easy right? Its only 86 degrees out and I’ve drank approximately 32 oz of fluid today. (great idea!)

Mile 1, hilly, but OK.

Turnaround at 1.5, very thirsty, very hot. Must.Have.Water. Head pounding. Cottonmouth.

Mile 1.6 – Give up before passing out. Walk remaining 1.4 miles.

Thursday (today) – Start freaking out. Can I really do this? I’ve had 3 really terrible runs over the past few weeks and skipped 3 more. OMG. What is the weather going to be like? I am quite sure that I will die if it’s over 60 Degrees. Turn to twitter for support. Other runners are freaking out too. We all freak out together. We are doing what in just 9 days? ARE WE INSANE? I think I might have been in a coma for the past 3 months, because why, exactly would anyone want to run 13.1 miles willingly in a sea of 15,000 people?

Then stepped in @Sara_McCarty as the calm supportive voice of reason. She passed on a link to her blog about taperting anxiety. (You think its funny, but its absolute torture.)

After reading Sara’s article, calmness ensued. I also passed it along to S. who also was freaking out. This feeling is normal, we can do it!

Deep Breath.