#RunVan Update 9 – Taper Time!

I’m currently training for the 2013 BMO Vancouver Marathon and am one of six official bloggers. Each week I’m providing updates on my training and experience leading up to May 5. You can read my previous posts here 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Well, we’re in the home stretch of training for the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Less than 30 days to go!

After my last update, I had mentioned I missed a weekend long run due to being Cap-Crushed. I’m glad to say that in the following two weeks of training I’ve had two successful long runs. On Easter weekend I was able to knock out 36km in 2:53. It was a ridiculously hot day (by Vancouver standards) so I was really exhausted in the final 5km of that run but it was nice to get it done.

Last weekend’s long-run went even better. It was a cool, overcast day, and I banged out 37km in 2:57. My legs felt great the whole way. I had a side-stitch that significantly slowed me down the final 10 minutes of the run or I would have been able to cover more ground. My overall pace was 4:47/km, but considering that includes time spent waiting at traffic lights and dealing with the side-stitch, I think it puts me within reach of my target race-pace of 4:23/km.

Last year, my longest long-run was 36km covered in 2:55 so I’m definitely seeing a bit of improvement there, which gives me hope I just might be able to squeak out a time of 3:05 on race day.

Now the question comes of whether or not I want to do another 3 hour run this weekend, or begin to taper and do something closer to a 2.5 hour run. Given that in my previous marathons I’ve always had severe leg cramping down the final 10km’s I’m leaning towards pushing out another 36km+ run. Especially since I didn’t suffer any significant soreness after my 37km, I think it will be the better call. But I’m going to play it by ear, and see how I feel Saturday morning.

Regardless, I think I can consider myself being in taper mode. It’s a great feeling know that the ‘hay is in the barn’ so to speak. There’s not much else I can do over the next 3-4 weeks to improve my fitness further. All the training I’ve done over the previous 4 months is what is going to count on race day. And while it is good to know the bulk of my training is behind me, it’s also unsettling at the same time. Self-doubt and questions of whether I’ve pushed hard enough are constantly creeping into my mind. Did I log enough miles? Have I been eating well enough? Sleeping enough? Did I miss too many runs?

After this weekend’s long run, I will keep up the same amount of training (5 -6 days of running, typically 1 speedwork session at the track, and 1 weekend long run), but the distances will decrease with the aim of letting my body be completely rested and primed to go on May 5!