Taper Troubles



            I don’t know how to taper before a race.  Correct that, I don’t like to taper before a race.  Tapering is when you have to admit that you’ve trained all you can, and you must get ready for the starting line.  For me that means, running less, eating more, and sleeping sporadically.  For my family, it means I become a miserable old sock.
            I’ve said it before running helps keep me sane.  Without it, I sweat the small stuff, and not even my hidden stash of Hostess Cupcakes can bring me out of my funk.
            I come from a long line of people who like to keep moving.  My mom’s motto is “don’t sit before noon”.   My dad was a putterer.  Rick builds things, Mark has a very physical job, Danielle, well, go ahead and try to get her to stay in one place, I dare you.  Even Jeannie-If she was ever in one place for too long, you can bet it wasn’t her choice.
            But here I am tapering.  This morning I heard my nine-year old mumble under her breath “mom NEEDS a run” as we were bickering/shopping for winter boots.  When I asked my even- tempered 15 year to take out the garbage, he listened to my tone and then looked at my perfectly dry running shoes by the door.  Okay, I get it.
            Finally this morning, my family got sick of me and sent me out the door for a nice long run.  I think angels sang!  It was wonderful.  My legs were rested and my pace was steady and strong.  I used the time to mentally think about my upcoming challenge.  Maybe, just maybe, I can get through this time and be ready to race next week.  I realized that by physically sweating, I could stop mentally sweating the small stuff.
            Now if I can just remember where I hid the cupcakes.
            

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mendon Ponds 50k Race Report

My day started early.  5:30 am to be exact.  My husband's extreme dislike of Saturday morning alarm clocks resulted in a literal  kick in the butt that got me moving.  It's time to race.  I know this drill:  re-think what I'm going to wear, put the things in my pockets that I ALWAYS forget,  grab my running backpack, ultra tackle box, breakfast and head out the door.  I'll use the drive time to fine tune my race strategy and supply needs. I arrive 20 minutes before the start.  I see hills and frost, better get the gloves and the light coat.  I grab my timing chip and race number and huddle at the start.  I scan the field.  No newbie's here.  People know each other, they are in mis-matched clothing, and they are lean.   Many wear shirts from the Sehgahunda trail marathon.  One lady said it was tougher than Ironman.  I make a mental note, I'm running Sehgahunda. Without fanfare, the race director tells us the trail is being run in reverse direction, reminds
Read more

Phunt 50k 2021

 It is amazing to me that my last blog entry was Phunt 50k from last year.   Although, I have run multiple ultras this past year, allowing me to surpass my 100th all time ultra-distance, I have not been moved to blog.   But, then, there is Phunt.   This is a race like no other, even in the virtual world.  You see, I was driving to Phunt on the day my brother passed away.  I've always felt a kindred connection between this race and Rick, and the prevalence of PBR on the swag, only deepens that connection. Phunt was my litmus.   I came back last year and ran with all my heart.   I ran for me.  I ran for time.  I ran for the adventure.   What I didn't know, was that I was running in-person for the last time.   For the race this year, which was virtual, I toed the line of my one mile cemetery loop.  This loop and I have become quite close this year.  On Saturday, I ran around that dang thing 31 times.  It took me nearly 7 hours and I used my car as my personal aid station.     I
Read more

My Life as a Dirty Girl

            100 miles.  The first time I attempted the distance, I left the course with kidney stones after 55 miles.  The first time I wanted to quit running all together was on the Dirty Girl course last year.  I completed an ultra there, but got lost and defeated.  “This is stupid.” I told my friends.  I was going to put away my running shoes and move on to other things. Three wonderful people gently coaxed me back.  (Thank you Roger, Kris and Denise)  I decided to take my two biggest running defeats and make the Dirty Girl my first 100-mile race.          The race got in my head.  I trained rigorously.  I was consumed by it during the weeks leading up to it.  I’d gone 75 on a nice flat course, but this would be different.  Roger describes it perfectly “ I hate the Dirty Girl course. It just goes up, down, left, right constant switchbacks and single track. It's was tough for me to get in the groove last year. No long stretches to put it in cruise.”          Before the race
Read more