one more to go!
Sometimes, trying to figure out if you’re peaking at the right time can be a little nerve racking. We marathoners (you know who you are) are strange that way - always wondering if we’ve done everything right, and if we will be at our best on race day.
A bit - ok, a lot - of paranoia can go along with this. For example…
August was full of breakthroughs. The three biggest ones happened on this hard run, this long run, and this easy run. Pretty much my entire running history was re-defined on those three days.
And yet, in the last week, I had a slightly disappointing long run and have noticed my heart rates - especially on easy runs - climbing a little higher. I was freaking out a bit. Was I losing fitness? Did I peak too early? Was I over-training?
And then I remembered something - I’m tired. I’m supposed to be tired. And guess what? Heart rates climb and paces slow when you’re tired…
DUH. Will somebody please give me a smack upside the head?
Today’s Easy Run
Time: 94:20 (target was 95:00)
Distance: 11.72 miles
Pace: 8:02
Avg HR: 155 (target was 145 to 155)
I’ve got one run left - a 20 miler - and then I begin the taper. I’m not expecting tomorrow’s run to be a record setting day. On the contrary - I expect it will kick my ass and I’ll be ecstatic to just get the damn thing done.
But, that run will add to my gas tank for September 9th. And it will all be worth it.
