Is it taper time yet?

Whoa...3 weeks from today I leave for Colorado. That's sick. Where did all of my training time go...it's almost time for a taper of some sorts...nuts! I'm getting pretty excited but still feel like I have lots of training left to do. Training is going really well but i'm starting to feel a little out of my league with my brother as a partner...damn guy is a machine and keeps pumping out these sick days of running. I really hope I can keep up!! I am getting pretty tired though and am definitely looking forward to the taper. I'm also getting more and more mentally exhausted and it feels like i'm turning into a bit of a dumb ass as a result....especially on mondays after a long weekend of training...some of the stuff I do on monday blows my mind. Dumb. Ass.

I'm also starting to go a little crazy doing so many long runs by myself and am trying to hit up anyone I can find to go on some long trail runs with me! Things are looking up for this weekend as I think i've found people to run with for at least 1 of my 3 long days. I have to admit that after this ridiculous summer, getting back to training for a normal marathon again is starting to look better and better. I mean don't get me wrong...it's still tough and hard but training for this multi day mountain stuff is a bit intense. I look forward to a bit of a "break" after this summer and getting back to my one long run a week (not multiple) as I train for the Okanagan marathon in October and Boston again next year (oh and Vegas? maybe in December).

Last night I was feeling pretty decent when I got home so decided to go on a 20km trail run. There's not many places you can do this in Calgary so I decided to run through the Douglas Fir trail 4 times....it's close to my house and it has some hills and lots of stairs. It was tough but I felt pretty good. At about the halfway point I was running down a hill and this wasp flies into my hand and gets stuck under the strap of my handheld water bottle. I didn't realize it had happened until I started to feel pain and then more pain...and had to rip the bottle off my hand to get it outta there. It stung me right between the fingers and my hand is actually sore and a little fat in that spot today. I'm glad nobody was around as I let off a few choice words! Ok, yeah if you know me then maybe more than just a few. What?...it hurt damn it! Good thing i'm not allergic or that could have been an interesting turn of events for my evening :)

Anyhow, aside from that...things are good, training is good, life is good. I'm a happy girl :)
deb

I Heart Friday

Ahhh...Friday again...I don't even mind being at work on Fridays! There's always the excitement of the upcoming weekend and all the plans you've made! Wahoo! I felt like this week totally dragged during the days but really now that the weekend is here it kind of seems like it flew by! I've got some fun things planned this weekend and while I should spend some time doing some housework, mowing the lawn, and all that garbage...i'm pretty sure all of a sudden it'll be sunday night again, i'll be vegging on the couch after a tiring but fun weekend, and will have accomplished nothing in the way of housework. It's funny cuz i'm usually so crazy about that stuff and love to have such a clean, spic n span place but once summer comes it's a whole different story. I feel like I tend to give it a really good cleaning only when I know I have visitors coming! I know I'm not the only one...there must be some other athletes out there that are too busy enjoying life, training, and sleeping to fit in that stuff?!


Anyhow, this has been a great week and I have recovered quite well from my 50km. I can't believe how 2 days after the race I was walking around with no pain and running 3 days after...man that is nothing like after a marathon. Running on the bloody road kills ya! So I was really happy to get in a good trail run on wednesday night with Logan up at Nose Hill Park as my first run since the race. We ran for 8km and I figured that was enough for my first run back...and Logan was a panting drooling mess but he had lots of fun. I meant to bring my camera but forgot sorry! Here's a pic I found online showing some of the park...

Yesterday I went for another 8km run at lunch along the Bow River pathway. I was feeling pretty good and it ended up being quite a fast paced run...whoops. I didn't intend to do anything like that the week after a race but I felt good so I went with it. My friend Nancy and I (and Logan of course) went back up to Nose Hill last night on our mountain bikes. I haven't been on my mountain bike in 2 years I think! I forgot how much I loved it. I've got to start doing that more often...good crosstraining for running too!! Unfortunately I'm a little timid (i.e. lame) when it comes to going downhill and because my brakes are effed at the moment, they squeal huge everytime I use them...so i'm sure the whole park could hear what a wimp I was on every downhill I did lol. Other than that it was a super fun night! Again...Logan was completely wiped out after this! Poor huskies...I can't imagine running around in a fur coat! :)

As for today...i'm going to do the Douglas Fir trail after work...I find it a pretty tough run and it's a good one you don't have to travel out of the city to do...it starts about 2km from my doorstep! It involves a ridiculous amount of stairs which I'm not very good at yet...hopefully by the end of the summer I will have mastered them?! I'm going to work it pretty hard and then feel ultimately satisfied and enjoy my evening of eating and boozing at my friend's stagette...apparently there's also a party bus involved...could be interesting. I'll try to nab some good pics :) Hopefully I can keep it under control because I'm not keen on running or hiking tomorrow with a hangover. I think depending on how I feel when I wake up tomorrow will decide if it's a hiking or running in the mountains day :)

Have a great weekend everybody!

deb