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| Tapering with my Baltimore partner in crime!!!!!!! She’s the one and only, Maggie Mae! |
I’m TAPERING! I’m pretty happy about it…so close! I was ecstatic to be done with my last 20-mile training run — especially because I did four of them. I was terrified I would miss one so I scheduled four and then ended up being able to do them all. Then, I was afraid I would peak to early and hate myself for over-training. Thus far, hasn’t happened — though my right leg, from pinky toes up to the knee, isn’t really happy with me.
Listening to my uber-trained bod
Because I was having so many aches and pains, I did only ONE run last week — 8 miles on the tread. My long run this Saturday was supposed be 12 miles but I went about 3.5 and had to quit. That NEVER happens but my body just wasn’t having it on Saturday. You gotta LISTEN! Your body is smart 🙂 I knew that meant I would have to postpone my “long” taper run for Monday morning (Saturday night was a birthday celebration not suited to preparation for long runs on Sunday, if you know what I mean!)
Cranking it out before work
So Monday held my 12 miles in her early morning hands. Due to early morning darkness, however, I was relegated to the dreaded tread (anyone feel me?) again. I came prepared to the gym this morning with my brand spankin’ new copy of Runners World. Oh, RW, you know me don’t you? It was all about the taper this month — and the food I need to eat the week before the big day.
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| Here I am finishing up my LAST 20-mile training run! |
Eating for the marathon. Gaining four pounds?
In the past, I have done a terrible job fueling before. It’s not gonna happen this year. I’m eating my 85% carbs at every meal for 3-4 days before the marathon. RW said you will weigh about 4 pounds more than normal on marathon day if you do it right. Well, that’s a little terrifying, but honestly, if it means I can have an awesome marathon — I’m totally gung ho about it. They gave a sample meal plan for the 3-4 days leading up to the marathon, which I plan on using. Here it is:
*A day of carbo-loading for a 150-pound runner
BREAKFAST
1 bagel with 2 tablespoons strawberry jam (71 g)
1 medium banana (27 g)
8 ounces fruit yogurt (41 g)
8 ounces orange juice (26 g)
MORNING SNACK
2 Nature Valley Oats ‘n Honey
Granola Bars (29 g)
8 ounces Gatorade (14 g)
LUNCH
1 large baked potato with 1/4 cup salsa (69 g)
1 sourdough roll (40 g)
8 ounces chocolate milk (26 g)
1 large oatmeal cookie (56 g)
AFTERNOON SNACK
1 Clif Bar (42 g)
8 ounces Gatorade (14 g)
DINNER
1 chicken burrito with rice, corn salsa, and black beans (105 g)
1 2-ounce bag Swedish Fish (51 g)
CARB TOTAL 611 g
Magazines on the Treadmill?
Back to today’s run. Many people are fascinated by the fact that I can read magazines while running at a fast pace on the treadmill. I admit, I’ve developed quite a talent and can make a magazine last for close to 2 hours by reading slowly and every word. RW last me about an hour and fifteen minutes today — got me to almost done. Because magazines are sometimes my ONLY motivation to workout, I have a subscription to lots, including:
- People
- Runners World
- Womens Health
- Self
- Shape
- Glamour
- Marie Claire
While I’ve often heard criticism of women’s magazines, I get a lot out of them. For me, they are simply motivational tools full of positive advice, healthy living tips, inspirational stories and self-esteem boosters. I draw the line at Cosmo — just can’t stomach it.
So I made it through a really rough 11 miles — only by the grace of RW. Reading about all these runners accomplishing goals, learning about good tapering practices and also, reading the amazing story of how Grete Waitz set the women’s world record in the marathon without ever having run more than 12 miles before she did it — that kept my mind off huffing and puffing, helping the miles speed by.
Now, just 12 days away from the Baltimore Marathon, I’m so ready to do this thing. I will not run too much the next two weeks — minimally to keep my joints ready for action. With all this hard training done, I feel prepared and more excited than ever to run.
QUESTION: HOW’S YOUR TAPERING GOING? CAN YOU READ MAGAZINES WHILE RUNNING? ANY “NO FAIL” FUELING TECHNIQUES?
Wow – you are SO awesome! I admire your dedication and ….you go girl!
Wow – you are SO awesome! I admire your dedication and ….you go girl!
Ahhh thank you so much for posting this! I am FOUR days away from Chicago and tapering has been so weird for me. I feel like I haven't "really" been running so I'm paranoid I'm not in shape anymore — but I know that's not true. And I admit I have been concerned about gaining weight since my mileage is way down … but if RW says it's OK, it must be!
Hi! First time here, just came over from Daily Mile.I am not talented enough to read magazines on the treadmill. I can watch TV and read captions tho! I've fell in love with listening to podcasts while I run…check out Marathon Training Academy on itunes, it's really motivational.Thanks for sharing the meal plan. I'm not tapering yet, but my marathon is November 20th so it's quickly approaching, eek!!!
Wow you go girl :)) I'm a new runner and I'm kinda in the dark. So thank you for posting this! And I really admire your dedication!
Good Luck!!! I wish I ran across that menu when I was in Taper Mode.. seems I was not eating enough at the end there! Oh well, next time!! You are gonna do AWESOME on race day 🙂 I cannot for the life of me read when on the TM. I try.. and try again, but I end up just staring at the same picture for the whole run, haha. You got some mad skills there!
Ahhh thank you so much for posting this! I am FOUR days away from Chicago and tapering has been so weird for me. I feel like I haven't "really" been running so I'm paranoid I'm not in shape anymore — but I know that's not true. And I admit I have been concerned about gaining weight since my mileage is way down … but if RW says it's OK, it must be!
Hi! First time here, just came over from Daily Mile.I am not talented enough to read magazines on the treadmill. I can watch TV and read captions tho! I've fell in love with listening to podcasts while I run…check out Marathon Training Academy on itunes, it's really motivational.Thanks for sharing the meal plan. I'm not tapering yet, but my marathon is November 20th so it's quickly approaching, eek!!!
Wow you go girl :)) I'm a new runner and I'm kinda in the dark. So thank you for posting this! And I really admire your dedication!
Good Luck!!! I wish I ran across that menu when I was in Taper Mode.. seems I was not eating enough at the end there! Oh well, next time!! You are gonna do AWESOME on race day 🙂 I cannot for the life of me read when on the TM. I try.. and try again, but I end up just staring at the same picture for the whole run, haha. You got some mad skills there!
Love the Swedish fish after the burrito! You are going to shine in Baltimore, have an amazing time!
Love the Swedish fish after the burrito! You are going to shine in Baltimore, have an amazing time!