Just Chilling

Today was a full day off, and I started feeling the first taper-induced phantom pains. It always happens, when we start backing off the normal routine, and the body starts questioning you as to what the heck you think you're doing. It's predictable, and sort of amusing, but it's still strange. It's time to eat healthy, get plenty of rest, do some gentle stretching when you think about it, and generally get tuned up for the Big Event. Gilbert has posted the remaining workouts through Freescale, and he's really taking it easy for us the last two weeks. Next week, we do an easy hour run on Tuesday instead of faster stuff, and then some 800's at marathon race pace on Thursday. Easy 7-12 mile run on next Saturday. Marathon week, we have a modest 3x1000m workout on Monday, at more or less marathon race pace, and then a warmup and some strides on Thursday, and that's about it, except for a couple of 45 minute easy runs. Intellectually, I understand that there's basically nothing I can do to improve my performance at this point, but it's sort of scary to see how little remains between now and February 13th. It's time to stay focused, relaxed, and ready. I'm looking forward to the last pace test on Sunday, the 3M Half Marathon, my last trial run at marathon race pace. Hopefully, it'll feel great, and I can bank some more positive mental images for use in two weeks.