This is the final week of tapering for Boston.  My miles are cut way down and there will be no cross training.  I’m lost.  I don’t need to get up early because my longest remaining run will be 6 miles. I’m just hoping I can sleep longer.  The contradiction to that will be going to bed later.  The result will be 6 hours of sleep, same as usual.  There’s no winning. 

I know this time is for my muscles to get strong and my body to recover from all the training but it doesn’t feel as tired and worn out as it has in previous training cycles.  Did I do something right this time? or did I do some things wrong?  By this time next week, we’ll know for sure.

My fears:

1.   Another leg cramp.  That sucker in Philadelphia hurt so bad, I’m overly focused on anything that even resembles a muscle going into cramp mode.  The worst part is that no one is 100% sure what causes muscle cramps.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

2.  Not getting in one last 20 mile run 3 weeks before Boston.  I ran 17, not 20.  Will it matter?

3.  Eating too much or eating too little.  I don’t need GI issues to tax my race. 

4. The weather. We can’t do much about the weather but if it rains or if it’s really windy or even if it’s really warm, I’m not sure what to wear to stay comfortable over the course of three and a half hours.

My positives:

1. I feel good about my conditioning in spite of not getting that last 20 miler in.

2.  I’m excited about running Boston again more so than I am scared.

3.  I enjoy the city and no matter what happens in the race, will look forward to spending time at the expo and having fun after the race when Ted and I walk around town, drinking good wine and eating wonderful food. 

4.  I want to see what my body will do for me in my 4th marathon. I’m looking forward to the hills beginning at 16 and I’m SO looking forward to seeing mile 21 and knowing I got over them all.

As Aron wrote when negative thoughts set in during her first ultra marathon, I’m going to smile at every challenge knowing that the success of getting through it is what makes the race exciting.  I’m out there because I enjoy it.  Keep smiling, keep going.

Flowers are so calming

Every year I watch for the daffodils.  They’re my sign that the warmer weather is on it’s way and the yard is filled with yellow sunshine and refreshing color.

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Have you noticed that a lot of bloggers are filling their posts with photos of colorful Spring flowers?  I love to see photos of flowers. So pretty and pure.

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I wish the daffodils would stay around a little bit longer. They hold memories of years ago when my parents would be outside on warmer spring days preparing the garden for planting.

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Since I started this “online journal” in 2009, I’ve shared the daffodils in our yard. This year is no different.  We find them popping up in new places where the squirrels have dug up bulbs and replanted them.   Guess the squirrels have their own summer garden preparations to do.

What brings our memories of spring and summers past for you?

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