Rest Builds Strength

It's taper time again. I really hate taper week. I have to mentally gear myself up for taper week more than I have to mentally gear myself up for a hard workout or a long run. It didn't used to be like that at all. I remember when I first started distance running I would mentally gear myself up all week for my long run on Saturday. Now I just plain look forward to my long runs every Saturday. 

My love for running has definitely grown over years of consistently getting out the door on the days I didn't feel like going and then coming home feeling a million times better. A week or so ago I came home from one of my long runs and said to Scott, "You know how they say you fall more and more in love with your spouse the longer you're married? Well, I think the same is true with running. I think you fall more and more in love with running the longer you run." Scott just paused for a second and then said, "So I have competition?" I got a good laugh out of that response. I tried to tell him they were in totally different leagues and that he doesn't even have to worry, but I'm not so sure he believed me. I think he responded with something like a sarcastic, "Sure." 

Anyway, I briefly mentioned that I had signed up for a 25K (15.6 miles) this Saturday, so this week is taper week and I'm reminding myself that rest builds strength. I read that in this article on Runnersworld.com this morning. I also read that my last long run should have been 3 weeks before my race day. Oops. Too late for that.  My "short" run this past Saturday turned into 13.1 miles because it was too gorgeous outside and I was enjoying myself too much to stop at 8. 

I'm writing my taper plan for this week down again because last time I did that I actually stuck to it, and then I even got a half marathon PR. 

Here it is:

Monday: 10-20 min. warm-up. 6X400 @ 1:30 (400m Rest). 10 min. cool down.

Tuesday: Pilates.

Wednesday: 3 mile run: 1 mile easy, 2 miles @ 7:40/mile.

Thursday: Rest.

Friday: Rest or 2 miles on treadmill plus 8-10 strides.

Saturday: Race day.

I already did today's workout and it felt great even though I had to settle for the treadmill instead of the track. I took B to music class this morning, and then we went to our apartment gym afterwards. We brought some of his new birthday toys and some snacks and he did really well entertaining himself. He also did a good job telling me when he needed to use the potty unlike last time I took him to the gym. We made two quick bathroom breaks for B during my workout. One right before I started the intervals, and one right after I finished, so he even timed his bathroom breaks well! Actually, that was just a happy coincidence. 

It's weird to think I won't even get sweaty for tomorrow's workout. I even straightened my hair today in anticipation of that. Yep, I plan my hair-do's around my workout schedule. :) 

Do you determine how much you get ready and how you do your hair based on your workout schedule, or is it just me?