i am officially physically ready for the 26.2 that awaits me in 5 short weeks!

last saturday i sort of slept through practice. it was rainy and gross outside, who doesnt love to sleep in a little on a rainy saturday morning? however i didnt sleep in too late and got my butt on the road by 8. ive been gradually increasing my mileage every week by 1 or 2 miles. my longest workout had been 17miles so last week i tapered my workout to 12.21.

tapering is an important part of training. but in a world with a "just do it" philosophy, sometimes it is over looked. tapering means to cut back on training which allows our bodies to repair muscles and build back up to peak strength. over training can lead to 1.) hitting a "wall" towards the end of your race or 2.) complete burnout. no fun!

so last week i tapered and this week i ran 20 miles like a champ.

our team took another field trip on saturday and headed way uptown to nose bleed new york city (178th street) to run the george washington bridge. we ran over the mile long bridge and into new jersey where we ran the shaded, and very hilly, paths of palisades park.

i hit my "wall" around mile 18 but with help from my running partner, assistant coach mike, i pushed through and finished the 20 strong and feeling great. i think running on brandy new shoes played a role in my discomfort during those 2 miles and maybe not the smartest thing to do during a long run but whats done is done and i had no pain in my feet after the run or the next day. 1 blister, but i think ill live.

we are returning to the GW bridge again next saturday and on sunday a few of my girlfriends and i are participating in the komen race for the cure 5k in central park.

the following sunday is the queens half marathon. running a timed half marathon before a full marathon gives you a good idea how youll run the full race. i havent set a goal pace/time for the race yet and im not sure if i will. i might just run it how my body wants to and see what happens!