 |
| Run west, run east, but don't overcook the taper |
 |
| Sunday long run happy |
Day 369
12 slow (ish) miles at conversational pace. To the river. Short, leg loosening walk this afternoon
The schedule said run easy for 70mins, but my schedule said meet up with Sarah and Jacquie as usual and chat happily while churning out the miles. We were all slightly surprised when we found ourselves at mile 5 (6, in my case, having run a mile to meet them) and obliged to turn round.
I felt fresh and bouncy, but needed to be mindful of our marathon guru Ted's wise words about tapering and Going Off Too Fast And Blowing Up (every marathoner's nightmare, but we are all still tempted to do it).
When you're feeling fresh and full-tanked after your taper, it's easy to take the attitude on race day that fast miles logged early will allow for slowing down, if necessary, later. Trouble is, in those early miles, you have absolutely no conception of how wiped out you are going to feel after a first half marathon that has been run too close to half marathon pace. It is always better to trust the science and go out at the very slowest pace your PB dreams will allow. In my case, I think that should be 8.55 minute miling, even 9m/m, just to ensure the sub four hour. At half marathon stage I can dial back the odometer to 8.45m/m and aim to finish the last six at 8.30m/m. That would be the idea, but there is alway that worry that you'll never speed up...the cramp and fatigue will come anyway, and the chance for quick miles will be gone. But no, that way madness lies. Trust the experts. Our very own Ted talk.
No comments:
Post a Comment