Thursday, May 19, 2011

Taper Madness... I think not.

Usually during the final week of the dreaded taper I am going crazy. I have cleaned my house from top to bottom, done yard work, planned everything to the last detail and have basically driven everyone around me crazy. It's a little like nesting in those last few days of pregnancy. This go around is different. Sunday gave me the first taste of nerves. You know that butterfly excitement feeling you get that is also accompanied by that pit in your stomach that is associated with a feeling of dread? You know, that one? Well it hit me when I realized that my quads were sore. Very sore. As in after a hard 1/2 marathon downhill sore. Even tonight I can touch my quads and they hurt. Add that to my calves which also took a beating during that trail run and you can see why that pit arrived in the bottom of my stomach. But you know, this time around that pit only lasted Sunday. Amid the training that has not gone as planned, running through yet another stupid injury, and now soreness before I even run the dang marathon, I finally just let go of everything. No more pit in my stomach for me. I've given in. Que sara, sara. Whatever will be will be. So I've had a couple of naps this week. I've watched a chic flic with Heather during the day while the kids were at school. I've eaten more chocolate than I should have. And I got a massage on Tuesday. One hour solely on my calves and feet. It was torturous heaven, if that makes sense. Good hurt. This taper thing, hey it isn't so bad after all.
I thought I had planned what I was going to wear Saturday, but I wore some old capris this morning and wondered why I wasn't wearing them on Saturday. And I still don't know what I'm going to wear on my feet. I could wear my Evo's. But I've only worn them up to 16 miles. And my Sahara desert feet sweat in them. I could wear my gorilla feet (Gist brand five fingers) but that's what I wore on my 20 miler when my toe started hurting. My doc says the shoes didn't cause it, but they have me leery. So I've got about 32 hours to figure that out. I have my shirt picked out at least. And I read through my last Ogden report and remembered that I wished I had brought gloves. So I will this year. And the weather looks decent. 65 degrees and sunny.
Now more than ever I've decided to make my mantra for the last few miles (or many many miles) of this marathon be "embrace the suck". Mike from Canada has been a follower since the beginning. Like 3 years or so. He's seen it all through my short little running stint. And he's offered words of encouragement and wisdom along the way. I was pretty excited because he and I were running marathons on the same day. Until he rolled his ankle this week and is out. Go over and send him some good vibes. I'll be thinking about the suck factor for him, for Heather my running partner, for Janae and for anyone else who doesn't get the privilege of running a marathon this week. Not that everyone one wants to. But for those who do and can't, it sucks. And embracing the suck isn't always easy or what we planned on doing.
Some may call us runners crazy, and they might be right. But it's like we know this little secret that can't be explained through words. Telling someone how running feels doesn't work. It's something so individualized and something that gets planted so deep inside you that it's hard to put into words. I guess that's why this blogging/running community is so great. You don't have to try and explain the madness because everyone just gets it.
As Mike would say, "it's a great day to be alive." Now go out there and act like it!

18 comments:

Julia said...

I LOVE everything about this post. I SO wish I could be there on Saturday! I am so inspired by you pushing through everything that has gone on and just going into this marathon openly and excitedly.

Really...you inspire me even beyond that...like on a daily basis! I cannot wait to hear about the race! Good luck!

I will be channeling "EMBRACE THE SUCK" in the rest of my training :)

That last paragraph = perfect.

have a great night!

Amanda@runninghood said...

Aw, you are finally here. Embrace whatever it is! Love your perspective here...yes, it is a great day to be alive!! And you're right, so many people that can't run and would love to. Love this. And yes, your comment about your massage made perfect sense...torturous heaven. ;) Excited for you!

Elle said...

Love this post.

Today I was so happy to be alive. I had about a perfect day. I think that feeling well and eating well and running lots has me on a natural 'happy'.

I wish you well on your race and look forward to reading your account of it. Cheers.

Lindsey said...

Woohoo, good luck!! It is a GREAT day to be alive!

Unknown said...

oh good luck!! if you need more things to do for taper, come clean my house. You can embrace the suck here. haha. JK!
Rest up!

Anonymous said...

I actually woke up this morning with you on my mind. You have got this! God is with you, your friends are with you. What more do you need my friend?

Anonymous said...

You are so funny! I love it "embrace the suck" awesome! No worries just embrace it!

Rachelle Wardle said...

Good Luck Jenn!!! "embrace the suck". LOVE IT!!! Thanks for sharing. You are going to do great I just know it. It is so easy think back to the coulda, shoulda, woulda, but at this point all you can do is the best that you can do. I believe in you and have a lot of faith in you!

Rachelle Wardle said...

Good Luck Jenn!!! "embrace the suck". LOVE IT!!! Thanks for sharing. You are going to do great I just know it. It is so easy think back to the coulda, shoulda, woulda, but at this point all you can do is the best that you can do. I believe in you and have a lot of faith in you!

One heart and mind said...

Oh girlfriend...you already know how I feel about this! One mile at a time. Don't forget the orange in the mouth picture and the sunglasses that make everything look awesome. Grab a jolley rancher for me and I'll see YOU at the finish line! Love ya!

Jennifer said...

You're going to do your best and whatever happens will happen! Try not to worry and it will all work out. And if it doesn't, DNFing is ok. We support you!

Nelly said...

Thanks a lot for your comment on my blog, injuries are definitely hard to deal with.

Good luck in your marathon, I bet it will go fine! I would just listen to your body as you are running, and it will guide you during the race. Wouldn't surprise me if you surprise yourself out there.

ihaverun said...

You have been amazing through everything. You are just all around amazing.

Good luck tomorrow. Enjoy the run!! And yay for the rain taking a little break just for tomorrow!!I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Margot (fasterbunnyblog) said...

Good luck! Can't wait to hear about it :). I know what you mean about being stir crazy during a taper for sure. You're going to be great :).

runs with boxers said...

This is such an amazing post--you are so wise and in touch with the important things. I believe that you will finish this having learned so much! I wish I could be there cheering you on! You'll be amazing, I just know it!

Jess @ Blonde Ponytail said...

I hope you are taking in today's race experience. You have been smart and listened to your body throughout training, and will do the same with this race no doubt!

Cheering for you Jen and looking forward to hearing how it went!

Deanna said...

Good luck on your marathon!! Your attitude is amazing!

Connie said...

Your comments about Mike were so sweet. We really missed him in Fargo.
Can't wait to read about how your race went this weekend!