What to do on a Tornado Thursday

Vermont is currently under a tornado watch (which, upon Googling watch versus warning for the 30th time, is the better of the two). Once you've secured an interior space with no windows, what's a tapering, anxious runner to do with a couple days to go?

• Watch Spirit of the Marathon (on iTunes, Netflix and Hulu) with your legs up, sipping on some water.
• Start laying out your clothes. Have you worn the shirt on a long run? What socks will you wear?
• Think about Sunday morning. When will you leave your house/hotel? Where will you park? Where are the porto-potties and when is my "final pee?"
• Write a thank you note or two to the people who got you here. No wo/man is an island, especially when training for a marathon.
• Review the course map. VCM will be clearly marked, but it never hurts to know where you're going.
• Read The Run Down, your guide to all things VCM, from how to drink on the move to parking to your eBag of coupons.

What not to do?

• Run longer/harder than you are scheduled to. Yes, I know you feel out of shape or like you need just one more good run. Just don't.
• Eat anything new.
• Give friends/family visiting a walking tour of Burlington.
• Check weather.com 25 times in a day. Nothing we can do about it but prepare.

Eat and sleep well tonight and tomorrow night. See you at the Expo, Friday 4 to 8 and Saturday 9 to 7.

Getting Warmer

On Monday, the high was expected to be 52. This is the forecast this morning:

50 I can handle. 60 is getting pretty warm, especially if it's sunny. At least the showers will be out of the way. Hopefully all the rain today won't flood the falls in Newton.

Weather is one of the things over which we have zero control in a marathon. We can only react and hope that our reaction makes us as comfortable as possible. I am starting the packing process and have no less than 2 duffels of running related gear (and one small duffel for other clothes). I have everything for a race at 20 degrees with wind to a race at 70 in the rain, plus every combination in between. I still have to get to the Dollar Store to pick up some throwaways, should I need them after I drop my bag.

So despite us having no control over the weather, everyone please cross your fingers that the temperature doesn't get much warmer...

It's Alllllllllllive

I'm mad. Taper mad, that is. Everything hurts, from my left calf to my right ankle and right hip. Did I mention the toe that feels like it's broken or the black toenail. My quads feel tight, my shoulder is sore and I'm pretty sure I've gained ten pounds in the last week and my shorts won't fit. I'm glaring at people out running, obsessing over the course and my mantra, memorizing paces that I'll write on my arm and trying to avoid germs, despite working in a hospital.

You can't make a training cycle during taper, but you can certainly wreck one. It's difficult to resist the urge to do one more long run, one more hard workout. It's hard to remember to stay hydrated, eat well and sleep well when the cornerstone of your routine is missing. The angel on my right shoulder soothes: "Trust the taper, let your body heal and prepare," while the devil on my left snarks: "Do one more medium run, go try race pace, stop eating." And there are still 6 days to go.

Hold on to your hats.

S

Spring has Sprung

"The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month." Henry Van Dyke


It has been a long effing winter. Today, however, as we ran along the bike path, it felt like we'd made it, like we've survived another long, painful winter. The sun was shining, we were in an assortment of shorts and capris and even a strong headwind didn't feel too bad. For Erin and I, this is the end of the road before Boston. The 16 today will be the longest we go until 2 weeks from tomorrow. Our job until then includes resting, sleeping and eating. Cruel that the weather should turn just in time for us to taper, but that's Vermont.


I am not a particularly hopeful person, but this is my favorite season to be a runner. Fall is great, but always has foreboding undertones, as though my legs know that winter and cold isn't far behind. Spring breezes are warm and everything just seems new. In some ways, I'm glad to have my target race fall in early spring so that I can enjoy the end of April and May without a rigid training schedule. Boston meant that we trained through some of the worst weather Vermont sees, but gives us May off to play, heal and get ready for summer.

Run On.

~S

The Final Approach

Ladies and Gentleman, as we prepare for our final approach into Boston's Logan Airport, please ensure that your tray tables and seat backs are in their upright and locked position. The flight attendants will be coming through the cabin to collect any unwanted items.

The descent into Logan is one of the most harrowing on the East Coast. During the preliminary descent, you drop to an altitude at which you can only see ocean. When you begin the final bank left, it appears as though you are going to land in the Atlantic. It's only at the last minute that you see the runway and exhale. My approach to Boston has been similar. For the past few weeks, I've been convinced that I'm going to land in the ocean, but I think I can see the runway now.

This training cycle has been turbulent, from a serious winter that has yet to relinquish its grasp to a schedule that even I have to admit is a little over-loaded. Much like the days after a harrowing flight, I am vowing not to repeat a training cycle like this.

My last 20 is done. I will do another 16 on Sunday, a couple more moderate distance runs and one or two faster paced workouts. My job now is to rest, recover and prepare for April 18th. I hate taper. I am a miserable person when I'm not running, so to those who see me regularly, please accept my advance apologies. (WM, it's my two weeks to be snarky.)

Anyone have an air-sickness bag?

~S