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| Don't hate me because I'm beautiful! |
Sorry for the Emily Litella moment. I know that was really bad. Never mind.
The taper. Right. I hear other runners talking about how much they hate the taper, but I have to say I'm not on board with that. I used to think I hated the taper, probably because someone told me I was supposed to. To be honest, I like the feeling that I get in my legs. Really. It feels like my legs are growing stronger every day, and according to this article, that's exactly what's happening. They definitely feel different than they have for the last 12 weeks or so, but I associate that with them getting stronger so it's a positive thing.
I am also taking that extra energy I have left over to take stock in all of the work I've put in: not just in this training cycle but everything that has brought me to this point. Here are a few thoughts that I've had running through my brain:
1. Six months ago, I was not running. Remember pool running Jaymee? I over trained. I learned from that and am now fitter than I ever have been.
2. I have been sleeping 8 hours per night, eating well and running my easy runs as easy as I ever have. I pride myself in running a positive split in my easy runs.
3. My butt no longer hurts.<3
4. I have nailed all of my goal marathon pace workouts these last two weeks and feel great running at 6:10 pace.
5. This will be my 16th marathon. Yes, sweet 16! I've run, on average, just under 3 marathons/per year in the 6 years I've been running. Eight of the last 15 have been under 3 hours.
6. Joan Benoit Samuelson is running Chicago = Awesome!
It occurred to me this week, as I was preparing for a GMP workout, that I feel 100% confident that I am fit enough to achieve my goal. In some ways, I can't believe the feeling of calm and confidence I have about that. I have been getting more worked up about my silly training runs than the race itself! I have no idea if the subliminal recordings I've been listening to at night are doing this for me, or if my most recent training runs have boosted my trust in my mind and body. Regardless, I'm very happy with where I am right now.
I know that there are still many things that can go wrong that are out of my control going into this race. While I hope everything lines up for me, I know that even if I don't have the best day, the work I've done has made me a faster runner and will continue to pay off in the future.
One week to go!!!!