Taper Week

I really enjoy my daily runs and Saturday long runs - they are not so much a part of training as they are now part of a lifestyle. That makes race weeks particularly frustrating. Races are necessary to gauge training, get experience running in packs, etc. However, the week before the race a runner should reduce milage while boosting carbs and maintaining weight. Not an easy combination.

This week I have only done 20 miles unlike the 40+ last week and a more normal 30 or so. My body and mind really want to get out and run and run quicker but a taper week is about discipline and preparation for the race. Tomorrow is the Vancouver Waterfront 12k and this will be my longest race since the Shamrock Run in mid-March. The only normal workout this week was speedwork on Wednesday where I increased my 1/2 mile intervals to 4 from 3 and reduced my 1/4 mile intervals to 4 from 6. This is part of the Yasso 800 program.

Denise and the boys were at the coast all week and she got in two runs of 4 and 3 miles. The 4 mile run she set a personal best at that distance as well as running her fastest single mile of the year. She is still fighting through the blisters and also has some knee pain the last two days. This is part of run training that is least fun - dealing with the injuries.