Only One More Long Run Before the Taper

Sunday I ran a mostly easy 18 miles. I pushed a little to run the last 5 miles at an average of 7:30 pace or better. Usually I run the last five miles of any run over 12 miles at no slower than 7:30, but with the wind today it made more sense to make 7:30 the average. Otherwise I would have had three miles at a very easy 7:30 pace, followed by a horrible 7:30 mile with the wind pounding in my face and finishing with an honest 7:30 mile with the wind mostly blocked by houses and what wind there was coming at me from the side. My first 13 miles were run at an average of 7:52 or so. The wind made it difficult to get much consistency, so my pace during the run was all over the place.

There’s not a much better feeling than when you notice an increased fitness level. I can remember only a few months ago, when those last five miles were a challenge to run at a faster pace. For the past few long runs, it’s just a matter of a slight increase in effort and the pace drops. Plus, I’m better able to get into a rhythm and cruise along at the slightly quicker pace without laboring.

I’ve basically been in marathon training for six months. I can’t wait to run a marathon and see what I’m capable of. This is my last hard week before my three-week taper. After I run next Sunday's 20 miler, the taper starts. I’m hoping I can find a local 10K this coming weekend to give me a reference point for my fitness level and see if the pace charts say I have a shot to reach my marathon goal. Plus, it will give me one more thing to stress over.