It’s Taper Time! Weekly Wrap Plus a New Look Around Here!

Many runners hate that last week or two before a big race when they’re forced to cut back and rest up their bodies after months of hard training. I, on the other hand, have found that the older I get the more excited I am about taper time! Yes, it has arrived. And while it’s short for my upcoming half marathon, only a week, I know my body needs the time to rest up a little before Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego next Sunday. Here’s how I spent my last week of higher intensity training.

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It's finally taper time! Check out my last week of intense training before @runrocknroll San Diego Half Marathon! Plus, check out my (blog's) new look! #running #rnrsdClick To Tweet

The Week Before Taper Time

My schedule has been a little off because I’ve had clients wanting to change their own schedules for one reason or another. While I usually like to take rest days on Monday and Friday, it’s been a bit inconsistent lately. I ended up running Monday and taking my rest days on Wednesday and Friday.

Tapering for a half marathon? Yay or Nay?

Monday

Since I was running Monday, I thought I should get in a tempo run, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Instead, I took it nice and easy on my regular four-mile loop, which is about half on the road and half on the trail.

Tuesday

That left me feeling ready for my tempo run on Tuesday. I was running with Alan and this run was one of the rare times that I was ahead of him! He’s normally faster than me, but I was pushing myself at just under half marathon pace and he’s coming back from a foot injury. I don’t know why it makes me feel good to run ahead of him, but it does (insert smiley face here).

Wednesday

Wednesday was finally a day off, so I hit the gym for a TRX workout. I love the TRX because it’s such a functional, total body workout in a pretty short amount of time.

Thursday

With our season winding down at work, I’ve been off on Thursday lately. I wanted to get my long run in then like I did last week, but I woke up feeling kind of crummy, with a little headache and just generally tired. I procrastinated getting out the door, never a good idea in the desert, and finally started my run around 6:45, still not sure I had 13 miles in me. I felt beat up in the first mile! I gave myself permission to cut it off if I needed to, knowing I’d have another day during the week to get it done. I felt like I needed this last long run before taper time for the confidence it would build.

They say hard runs are character builders, so after this 13-mile run, I must be ready to work for Disney! Every step was tough, but I really, really wanted to get it done. Fortunately, the headache cleared up, which helped, but this run was hard from beginning to end.

Friday

Friday was another rest day, and I was meeting up with another trainer from work to review the Power Plate orientation that we give to members before they can use the machine on their own. I was recently certified as a Power Plate Trainer, but in all honesty, I’d never used it before!

To answer some of the questions I received about it on my Instagram post, the Power Plate uses vibration technology to activate the body’s natural reflexive response. It uses a vibrating platform, which moves 25 to 50 times per second in three directions (up and down, forwards and backward, and side to side). This destabilizes the body and promotes the reflexive engagement of muscle fibers and an increase in circulation. This causes development in whole-body balance, mobility and stability, strength and muscle memory, in a much shorter period of time than traditional workout methods.

The workout was short but intense, and my coworker showed me no mercy. As a result, I was sore for the next three days! Still, I’m excited about the benefits of the Power Plate and I can’t wait to use it for both my clients and myself.

Saturday/Sunday

Of course, all that soreness made me a little concerned on Saturday morning, when I was scheduled for my last higher intensity workout before taper time. I had a six mile progressive run on the schedule, and when I woke up with aching muscles in the morning I wasn’t sure that was going to happen. Fortunately, I chose to do it anyway, because I was a lot sorer on Sunday morning! But Sunday is a fun, easy day on the trails with Alan which actually helped me move through the stiffness.

 

Life Stuff (and a New Look Around Here)

Last Sunday was my son David’s 37th birthday! I’m still shocked when I think about my kids being that old! We went out to the Yardhouse, which has a few vegan options, to celebrate not only his birthday but both Alan’s birthday and Mother’s Day. We had a great time!

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it, but Alan hand-fed and raised a litter of kittens after their mom disappeared when they were about 10 days old. It was touch and go for a while, but now they’re healthy and strong and we’re looking for homes. These sweet babies may have come from a feral mom, but they are so cute and loveable they deserve a loving family and an indoor home.

You may notice a new look around here! Every few years or so I get an itch to change my blog theme. I was resisting for a while since I did like my old one, but I got an email from Studio Press with an awesome deal for this particular theme, which was recommended for fitness bloggers. I couldn’t resist. I still have some work to do to get it just the way I want it, but I do like the look and feel. What do you think?

Well, that’s it for the week! Now that it’s taper time I’ll spend the upcoming week with a few easy runs. I head to San Diego on Saturday morning. I’m staying with my friend Christina (who used to be a neighbor) in Oceanside. She will be running her very first half marathon, which I think I’m more excited about that she is! I love introducing friends to a new kind of pain. Kidding! She ran the Carlsbad 5000 All Day 20k with Alan and me, which was her very first race ever. Anyone who chooses to do four 5k races in a row for their first event is pretty tough!

I’m linking up with the Weekly Wrap with Holly and Wendy!

Do you enjoy taper time? Or do you hate it? Have you ever tried (or heard of) the Power Plate?

 

 

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Weekly Linkups

My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!

Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie  and Dixya
Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia, Erika, and Patty
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Jen, and Nicole
The Plant-Based Potluck Party with Deborah
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Lora Marie, and Me!
Friday 5 2.0 with Rachel and Lacey and Meranda
Weekly Wrap with Wendy and Holly