All that’s left is the taper (1 week to go)

It’s funny how running 100 miles in seven days leaves one feeling like he didn’t do a damn thing. I guess that feeling comes from a lack of long runs and doubles, which can make a weekly mileage total climb.

Nevertheless, after cutting to 70 percent of my last week’s total I checked in for the penultimate week of the training cycle with an even 100. Shoot, I remember when that was hard.

Now the hard part will be cutting back even more, staying sharp and preparing to run 5:50s pace for 26.2. I’ve done the work, now I just have to pull it off.

Anyway, here’s the first taper week.

Monday, April 21
15 miles in 1:39:39

Tuesday, April 22
15 miles in 1:33:32
splits:
1st 5 – 32:00
2nd 5 – 31:37
3rd 5 – 29:54

Wednesday, April 23
15 miles in 1:34:57

Thursday, April 24
15 miles in 1:37:39

Friday, April 25
1st run: 11 miles in 64:10 — first 5 in 27:54
2nd run: 3 miles in 20:27

Saturday, April 26
11 miles in 70:18
Splits:
1st 5 – 31:14
2nd 6 – 35:44

Sunday, April 27
15 miles in 1:28:30
2.5 miles up, 5 miles in 26:38, 7.5 down

100 miles for the week.

Here’s the mileage I put in for this marathon: 93, 94, 90, 114, 120, 100, 109, 125, 103, 106, 126, 124, 125, 133, 131, 140, 100. That’s all I could do.