Sunday – REST
Monday – 20 minutes easy before work (woopsies slept in)
Tuesday – 3×1200 @ 5k pace w 400m jog recovery, 1 mile warm up and cool down. Great workout to get the legs turning over fast, but not overly taxing
Wednesday – 4 mi easy before work with EB
Thursday – rest – my birthday present to myself :)
Friday – rest, unplanned – a hangover/food poisoning birthday present to me!
So pathetic. 26 sucks.
Saturday – 10 mi LR (8:20 avg) & easy yoga – remarkably consistent despite minimal garmin-stalking. great confidence booster although I KNOW TOO FAST.
Sunday – 45 min (easy) ellipticizing.
Monday – SoCal Brick workout…
Watch out, Tri World.
In reality it was like 5 miles of easy cruisin and a 3 mile recovery run. And 20 oz of icy cold coffee for fuel. Delightful.
Tuesday - Track Party – short intervals, nice and easy
Wednesday - Does laundry count as cross training?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So that brings us to now. Marathon week. Taper. GAAHH CRAZY THOUGHTS WHAT’S GOING ON WHERE DID THAT PAIN COME FROM WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE RUN 5 WEEKS AGO OMG AM I RECOVERED WHAT IF IT RAINS???
This is my first time really tapering. God it’s just as terrible as y’all say it is.
Whenever a thought – ANY thought – about the race creeps into my head, I shove it out with some distraction as fast as possible.
‘Bib pick up?… oh what should I make for dinner?…’
‘Pacing strategy?… oh right that work report due next week, should do that…’
‘Race outfit?… I wonder if it’s time for the dogs’ flea medicine…’
And when people ask how I’m feeling? Am I ready? Excited? Nervous? I’d give them a smile, mumble a “yeah, you know…”
… probably look a combination of confused and completely terrified.
I know how badly I can get in my own head, so instead of letting all of the pre-race anxiety wash over me these two weeks, I’ve just been letting it fly over. No stressing over pace splits, fine-combing the elevation chart, or succumbing to self-doubt.
But now we’re just a few days out, and it’s time to sit down and take this shit serious. Focus in on my goal. Iron out the plan. Figure out what the hell I’m wearing. Etc.
First? I think I’ll tackle my second-to-last training run.
Because in less than 60 hours I’ll be toeing the start line in Ojai.
(Holy crap.)
Sarah OUaL
Happy Birthday!
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First off, Happy Birthday. Think that 26 year old hangover is rough? Wait till your 30. As for the race, YOU GOT THIS. Now relax.
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Ditto Julie. I barely drink anymore because my 30 year old hangover, which usually includes vomiting through tears in my own shower, not worth it.
Hope taper week goes well and the race goes even better.
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Your link to EB is awesome. I’m sure she loooooves it ;) I’ve got a running coach tapering for Ojai right now. I’m sure our LR on Saturday is going to look like, “I’ll wait here while you run 12 miles.” ;) Hope you’re feeling better!!
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Hangovers at 29 result in me laying on my bathroom floor crying and saying Hail Marys (I wish I was kidding). I am REALLY excited to see how you do this weekend! Don’t let the taperworm get you down, you GOT this!
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Dude, taper sucks, but it works. At least I think it does. With the fact that you tapered and the course has a gentle down slope I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if you ran sub 3:30.
Anyway, see you Sat or Sunday morning. Looks for the 4:25 pacer sign. What shuttle are you on? (they put me on 5am but I might see if I can get on teh earlier one. 5am doesn’t leave me much time to hit the porta potties and I need to be behind the start line on time seeing as people might be looking for me to pace them).
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Happy Birthday!! And you have totally got this race. You could not be more ready. You just need to trust in your training! And wear something awesome, obviously.
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You go with your duathalon workout! next up, Ironman! ;)
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Happy late Birthday! Listen, you have the outfit all planned, what else is there? Kidding. Sort of. But good luck!
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You will do great! Nice brick training. Love the bike! You would so rock a tri on that.
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pretty sure this may be the first time i’ve commented on your blog. thank you so much for that FABULOUS link to my awful picture from vegas. you are probably the bestest friend anyone could ever ask for…B.
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Happy Birthday. Take a deep breath. You’re ready!
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HOLLA 26! You are totes gonna rock this, get excited!
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Happy Birthday! You are trained, you will do this. I wish I had great advice for how to make your head not freak out. I can tell you that no matter how many races I have done, no matter how freaked out I have been prior, afterwards I always laugh at myself and think, “why was I so stressed…?”
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Tapering is so hard. Your BQ is almost here. I’m busy thinking about what I’ll eat the night before (found a little Italian place near our hotel) and making sure I pack every little thing I might need. You’ve worked hard and you will smack down that baby like no other!!! :)
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Whatever the results, your training and running talent has IMPROVED so so much! You inspire me. Leave it on the course. Hugs!
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I think a BQ would be a pretty awesome birthday present. :) Best of luck on Sunday!
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GOOD LUCK! :) can’t wait to hear about it!
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Woohhooooo, you’ve got this!! Can’t wait to hear!!
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Happy birthday! You’re gonna rock this race, I just know it! Can’t wait to read all about it!
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I do much better when I think less. So, think less! Think of that scene from Forgetting Sarah Marshall — the less you do, the more you do surf scene with Paul Rudd…should keep you laughing and relaxed for 26 miles.
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first of all, awesome bike. totally tri approved. taper really sucks, but youll be fine. suck it up. and 26 dude? TWENTY SIX. oof. i knew hated you for a reason. #imold
now go kick that freaking race in the face. and is there a place we can follow you? friends that will text us (clearly its normal to have people text strangers with updates. totally).
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GOOD LUCK!!
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