I completed my last 20 mile long run before the taper for the Hartford Marathon on October 11th. I had a choice this weekend for this run. I could go on Saturday in the rain or I could go on Sunday in the rain. So I decided to go on Sunday in the rain because I was hoping that my Sunday the rain would have stopped. I was wrong. I ran the entire thing in the rain. At times I ran in the pouring rain. Other times I ran in the drizzling rain.
When I checked the weather on Saturday night weather.com's hourly forecast predicted 50-60% rain between 6:00 am and 10:00 am and then increasing likelihood from then on raising up to 90-100% for the afternoon and evening hours. This was all thanks to Hurricane Kyle. So I figured I was good to go as long as I was up and out the door early. Nice dry run before the rain started.
When I checked the weather on Sunday morning, weather.com's hourly forecast predicted... exactly the opposite of what it did on Saturday night!! Grrr... New England weather!
I really didn't have any choice other than to get out there and run. So I did just that. I ran 2 miles easy and then my goal was to run the next 16 between 8:10 and 8:20 and then last 2 very easy. I ended up doing just about that and finishing with an 8:19 pace overall. My time was 2:46:something. I was really happy with that especially considering that I was soaking wet. I had bought new socks the day before and well, those are not very nice looking anymore. They are just totally stained with dirt and the red inside of my shoes. Whatever. It shows some hard work.
I'm writing this on Monday and the backs of both of my calves are pretty sore, but that's what this taper is for. Rest. Rest. Rest. And that's exactly what I plan on doing.
I do have to mention that I made the most awesomest contraption for keeping my Garmin dry. Usually I just wrap it in plastic wrap, but I didn't have any so I had to innovate. I took a ziploc bag and put a little slice on each side toward the bottom of the bag. I put my Garmin in the bag and stuck each wrist band end through the slit. Then I cut the bag so it just fit the Garmin and taped the open end closed with some packing tap (apparently the lovely sound of the packing tape woke up Dave. Sorry, babe!). This contraption worked really well and kept the Garmin dry for the entire run. I was a little considered because it looked like there was some condensation on the inside of the bag, but it didn't seem to bother it.
Taper begins...
4 comments:
Good luck (and have fun) at Hartford. Nice pics of the fall to....
yikes....that's a pretty intense run this close to the marathon!! Glad it went well and you didn't do any damage. Keep a close eye on those calfs!
How do you contacts fare in the rain? I tried to run in the rain last Wednesday and I ended up losing a contact, meaning I could only half see, with my depth perception off. I had to turn around because I was afraid I would fall and/or get hit by a car.
Sarah, the intensity of the run definitely freaked me out a little bit and I'm wondering if that was too close to the marathon, but I'm just trusting boston running center on this one. It's taper time now!
Heather, how in the world did your contact fall out? mine don't bother me at all in the rain. i'm glad you turned around for the sake of safety. i couldn't wear my contacts for awhile so i had to go without them running and it was pretty darn scary.
majorcane, thanks for the good luck wish! and all my scabs from the fall have officially healed.
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