Friday, September 26, 2014

"A Fortnight Remains" or "The Heart of the Taper"

Only two more weeks until the Chicago Marathon, and I can safely say that my training for the race has been the most I've ever trained for any race in my entire life. This is a good thing, but there are so many other factors besides training mileage that go into a good marathon performance that I may just have to accept whatever time the run gods deem me worthy of on October 12.

In a later post, I will put together a comparison of this cycle vs. my previous marathon training cycles, but suffice it to say, I have targeted this race and only this race with a vengeance for about 10 months and have not let my foot off the gas until now.

As far as taking my foot off of the gas: This week, my first taper week, I ran 70 miles. It's hard to believe that a 70 mile week is running less, but since the previous two weeks were both over 80 miles, it is indeed. I once thought that I might max out once at 70 miles, but this cycle I've had five weeks over 70.

 As for "taper madness", here are some symptoms I'm experiencing:

  • One day I think that it's frustrating that I won't be able to run as much as I have previously. I worry that I'll experience lower daily endorphins, gain weight, and slowly watch as my fitness declines. Then the next day, I'll be frustrated that my taper doesn't entail only running one or two miles per day! I still have to run 90+ miles over the final two weeks. This includes two 12+ mile runs. Not exactly chump change.
  • I'm having the typical "injury paranoia" where every little twitch and pain might signal a marathon DNS. I tripped over an open kitchen drawer (near the floor) the other night and bruised my right shin pretty badly. I thought for sure I had done something which would shut down my running, but when I woke up the next day, the pain was gone and I was back to normal.
  • I'm second guessing myself if my four 16 mile long runs were enough. I've read about numerous people who have at least one or two 20+ long runs under their belts. Then I remember that some coaches recommend the long run be 20% of weekly volume. Guess what, I was dead on 80 miles * 0.20 = 16 miles. My marathon PR was based on maxing out at 16 miles, so there's that as well.
Anyway, here is my training chart with only two more weeks of red line (forecasted):


So now I'm about to start the "heart of the taper" and try to stay mentally and physically healthy for a couple more weeks! Is anyone else having interesting "taper madness" symptoms?

10 comments:

  1. I usually have to hide my credit cards during taper time, because I spend too much time online shopping.

    Hang in there, it'll be over soon!

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    1. Ha, yes I can understand about the shopping. My amazon.com shopping cart is about full. I just need to click "Submit Order"!

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  2. Taper madness is the worst! Hate that feeling that every little niggling pain will turn into a full-blown injury. But, you've been here before and you know what to expect out of a taper. Hope the rest of it goes quickly for you so you don't have to suffer too much!

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    1. Yes, those phantom pains are a pain! It will be over soon and I'll be standing at the start line before I know it!

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  3. Not yet! I still had speed work this week, and have a 12 miler on Sunday. I don't know if I'll have it this time around since my training has been so different. I'm ready to run. Bring it on!

    ~Wendy at Taking the Long Way Home

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    1. Hopefully, you'll avoid taper madness altogether! I'm ready as well! :)

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  4. I understand that feeling that your whole body is falling apart! I've woke up many a morning and wondered if my legs were going to stop working. Plus, during taper, I become a bottomless pit of hunger.

    You've got this, though! Your training has been stellar and come race day, your body is going to be fiercely prepared to take on every challenge that awaits!

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    1. Yes, I can relate to the "bottomless pit of hunger"! I ate like a starving animal yesterday and kept thinking that I could not run off all of the extra calories since my mileage is starting to diminish. Worried about weight gain in the next 2 weeks is probably foolish though. Better to stay strong than starve! Thanks, I hope so! :)

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  5. Don't second guess yourself. Dude, you got this!

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