This is about the time that I post my marathon tapering tips, but you can easily click the link to get them since they generally stay the same. I realized this week that I guess i’m not like other marathoners based on some comments and reading i’ve done because I only do a two week taper instead of a three week taper, and I don’t necessarily take it easy the first week of that taper either, I just cut back the miles. I know for me that cutting down the miles and the intensity at the same time tends to kill my motivation, so keeping the intensity up and kicking it up a notch while cutting back the distances the first week is critical to me (although I miss the miles).

Now the second week of the taper, which i’m entering now, is really a relax week where I actually get to sleep in a little each morning (if insomnia doesn’t get me) and do some real shorter runs as I start to wind the pace down as well. Its just a matter now of getting out and staying loose and reflecting back on the training and what I struggled through (i’ll post a summary tomorrow). The real reason that I only do a two week taper is because I do multiple marathons, so a full 3 week traditional taper, then one week of recovery is almost a month off from actual serious running .. I always figured a two week taper with one being real easy and then a shortened recovery week after the marathon gets me ready for the next one. I’ve gotten criticism on how I do it, but it works for me, to each their own…

So i’m looking ahead at the weather for next weekends Ocean Drive marathon on Sunday, and as it looks right now, we’re looking at a 45* start with a 53* mid-day temperature and winds out of the south, yes, out of the south which means we’re looking at a tail wind instead of that awful head wind. The best part is no rain or snow or frigid cold is forecast as of now, so thats a good thing. I haven’t thought much about what I’m going to wear yet, its usually a last minute call with this race depending on the weather, but I see shorts, one short sleeve wicking shirt underneath and a long sleeve over that… Unless the weather changes drastically, that should be plenty. Maybe gloves?? Maybe a hat?? not sure .. but i’m thinking no.

The struggle with next weekend will be not tiring myself out from the fun since we’re actually heading down on Friday and spending the entire day on Saturday as well as Sunday for the race. We’re staying at the Montego Bay resort which has an indoor waterpark and pool and all and its right on the boardwalk. Which brings me to my next thought, according to this article I read online, the boardwalk reconstruction in Wildwood is going to wrap up the weekend of the race (Palm Sunday) and the race goes right through that section which is currently torn up still in the picture. I hope it gets done in time and doesn’t fall behind schedule .. last year we had to divert from the boardwalk for the other section they were rebuilding, I hate to do it again (because you can’t see the ocean from the streets like you can on the boarwalk)..

I finally broke down and ordered a new 2gen ipod shuffle .. but I don’t know when its going to arrive. I bought it on Ebay for $35, but didn’t realize it was coming from China .. so it may or may not ever get here (and if it does, when???) Worst case is that I can probably get through with the ole’ standby if needed..

Lastly, I put on a new pair of dress pants I bought the other day for work and I got seriously depressed .. how is it that I can be running 65+ miles for so many weeks and still have that awful ‘inner-tube’ of fat around my stomach? They look horrible because they were snug and the fat was just sticking out! Otherwise i’m skinny as can be, except for around my stomach … UGH! I think I have to find a good nutritionist because I just do horrible eating when I really look at it … its amazing that I can run so well and train and stay dedicated, but then eat like crap. Maybe if I clean up my diet it will help my running if I really get serious .. I think I got the motivation seeing myself in those pants.

Well, off to find SOMETHING to do since i’m not tired, sore, dehydrated from a long run today .. I miss my miles …