After many months and miles I am now officially in taper mode. I finished my last mock Dopey runs this week with 3 miles on Wednesday. Then on Thursday I used the miles that I was going to be walking the streets of New York for my 10k simulated run (walk). I ended up walking 9 miles that day. On Friday I had to do a half marathon distance. I had to start early before the sun was up so I did 9 miles on the treadmill and 4 out on the road. I walked much of the 9 miles but it felt good to be outside to run the 4 miles. On Saturday morning when I woke up I felt some soreness in my glutes and my feet. Much of that was because I used the treadmill the day before and also because I walked in NYC with my Dansko shoes on.

I slept in a little, had an English muffin with peanut butter and my tea and started my 20 miles on the treadmill. The intent was to do 5 miles on the dreadmill and 15 on the road. I ended up doing 6 and 14 on the road. I walked all 6 miles on the treadmill. I felt good once I got out to the road. I maintained my pace for most of the run. But I was also happily counting down the miles to know that all of my dopey training miles were coming to an end and I could relax and get ready for Christmas. It was a very cold day with some small snowflakes in the air.

I had my fuel belt on but it was so cold I barely drank my water. I did need gummy bears at around mile 7.
I had decided after the Philadelphia marathon that I didn’t want to do another 26 mile training run prior to Dopey. So I only did 20 today. I hope that is good enough. I know I will be sore when it is all over. But I think I will be able to finish with little issue. I am happy to report that I maintained all of this training without injury this year. My pace may be slower but I can now do 4 consecutive runs which I have never done before. I was very hungry around mile 17 and was going to eat my pretzels but held out until I got home. I did have my chocolate milk when I got home and took a very long warm shower to thaw out.

After that we went to finish up the last of our Christmas shopping and came home to have dinner and lay on the couch and watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was great to just hang out on the couch and watch a funny Christmas classic with the kids. They are older now where we can watch these movies with them and I love hearing them laugh!!

So I am happy to say that my training was successful for this challenge and I am greatly looking forward to having those medals around my neck and enjoying the parks the days after the race! The question that remains in my mind is if I would do this again. Right now I can’t answer that. I know next year my mom wants to do the 5k so I will do that one, and if I am going to do the 5 then I have to keep up my streak of the 10k so the big question is if I will bother adding the 1/2 to the weekend. That is yet to be determined.

The training is the hardest part to preparing. Waking up will be another hard part. So stay tuned!!!