Tap Tap Tap. Hello? Is this thing on?

I'll start out with my apologies to my 9 readers for being gone so long.  With work, life and blogging at Salty Running, my personal blog has fallen firmly onto the back burner.

It is the weekend before the Boston Marathon and I am feeling SO excited for all of my friends who are running it.  The weather looks ideal for racing or for just enjoying the ride.  I can't wait to hear how everyone does.

That said, I did the unthinkable.  I scheduled an off-site client meeting on Monday morning for 11:00 am CST.  Yes, I really did that.  No, I was not thinking.  So with my travel and meeting, I will completely miss the end of the elite races.  Doh.  Oh well.  Thank goodness they have an app so at least I might be able to sneak a peak at my phone for results.  It's not the same, but it's something.

In other news, I am in taper mode for my goal half marathon, which is next Saturday.  I have to admit this half marathon training thing isn't settling so great with me.  But that may also be because it was a crazy season altogether - so maybe it isn't the distance.

I peaked out around 50 miles a week and did 2 speed/tempo workouts each week with a long run on the weekend.  Training was so hard given that much of it was on the treadmill.  I had 2 tune-up races and neither went great, but they weren't awful either.

This week training got derailed a bit due to a family member's health issues.  Lots of stress meant running had to be de-prioritized.  I was wicked sore by the middle of the week too, which I didn't expect.  I'd expect that during marathon training, but not for the half.  I don't know why I thought it would be different, but it isn't.  I am sore, I have log legs and my heart rate is super high. Just like it always is the weekend before my goal marathons.

So here is where it gets interesting.  I decided to run a local half, the Parkinson's Half Marathon.  It is ideal because the start and finish is less than half a mile from my front door.  I ran it last year as a training run (at goal MP) and it was awesome!  This year doesn't look so good though.  It has been cold and rainy and the trail it is on (rails to trail) is an absolute mess.  The footing is all uneven and it is impossible to run fast on without risking a serious turned ankle.  Of course rain is forecast almost every day next week too - with the bonus of snow on Friday (ugh).

Add to that the fact that this year the race is sold out.  It has gone from 220 runners to 800+.  Gah.  That does not bode well for an out and back on a rails to trail course.  The trail itself is only about 5 feet wide.  I don't think I'll have a problem running out to the turn-around point, but I imagine a huge traffic jam on the way back.  Not cool.

So I talked to my coach about all of this.  It looks like I may extend my taper an additional week and travel to Champaign to do the Illinois half marathon.  I know that the course will be fine (roads) and hopefully we won't have snow.  Hopefully it will be a good choice.  I have to admit it all just feels a little off though.

Wish me luck.

Happy training to you all.  For those running Boston tomorrow - kick some @ss and have a blast!