Taper Madness

Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

2-13-12

wow, more than a month since I posted last... I'll chalk it up to the vacation we took (cruise), ajoining visit to my sister, a marathon and a Boy Scout event. I could have been going to the pool this evening, but I'm tired. didn't get up and run with the dog this morning. It was 25 degrees out, dark and totally unappealling. WIMP. Went to work and out to lunch with my younger son...while I was not as sore from the Sedona marathon with huge and frequent hills, I'm not bouncing back energy-wise. Eating well, hydrating okay. Just getting older. On the other hand I did look back at some of my other years when I was running faster and less frequent marathons and I took lots more rest days. So I'm hoping that doing this by feel is enough. If not, too bad.

I'm really looking forward to New Orleans in two and a half weeks. Have to make plans for California, I have the plane ticket for both of these. Also have plane tickets for the Bear Lake Double in June and Montana in July. Nothing for the fall yet as the AirTran ste isn't set up that far ahead. But I should be able to get at least one round trip for free. Maybe more by then. That credit card racks up points faster than the old one. Which is good as it took close to four years to get the points for Montana.

I just hope all the logistics (and my legs) continue to hold up so I can wrap this up before I retire (spring 2014).
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"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

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Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

3-22-12

seriously not getting it done... there doesn't seem to be enough time ion any one day... partly because I keep doing other things, like taking my kid down to NC for a quick trip to go to a museum for one of his classes. I just hope he writes the report. I've been spending more time playing computer games than much of anything else. THen the weather got really nice and I'm spending time in the yard, but not enough.

and trying to get a back to back work out on the weekends... right. Did this past weekend, sort of... did 12 and then 10. Included lots of water jogging so it should have been easy. Then I felt flat most of this week till I slept 10 hours last night. Mayber that is what will be needed. So Sunday I'll plan on going to bed about 6PM.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

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Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

6-15-12

Heat issues... and all I did was walk the dog with my work clothes, dress jeans and a polo shirt. I had thought about changing into shorts and a tee mostly to change shoes, but the dog was over anxious. A simple mile and a quarter, mostly in the sun 82 degrees and I'm light headed, slightly nauseous. What gives.

I did go to the pool last night to water jog. An hour of that and I felt like I had just finished a brisk 10 miles or so. Slept hard and felt flat this morning. Getting old sucks. No recovery power any more. That used to be my strong suite. I did a mile jog with the dog both Wednesday and Thursday morning before work, no soreness at all. Doing embarssingly slow marathons means I could start runing again within days if I wasn't so wiped out and if the weather was chilly and overcast.

At least the worry about the double is behind me. I fell ten pounds lighter, even though I'm actually eight pounds heavier. Stress eating.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

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Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

6-23-12

had a fairly uneventful week... lots of water jogging and two miles most morning with the dog. I just wish that I didn't see the weight creeping up. I'm sure that part of it is the fact I sit at work for eight hours.

My older son is planing on hiking the Appalachian Trail. Flies to Maine on July 17th. Does Mount Katahdin on the 18th then heads south the next day. Through the 100 mile Wilderness. I'm glad I get to not walk the whole thing. I'm sure he'll be fine now that I've convinced him to take his cell phone. He built himself a page for donation... seems he feels he has bought enough of his friends drinks so now they can repay him
http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

7-22-12

On Tuesday I dropped my son off at the airport, "destination Bangor, Maine"... he hefted his pack at exactly 5 AM, checked in and flew out. Much later the fifth phone call of the day let me know the one thing he forgot to pack...duct tape. Which is really funny as he unpacked his already packed pack at my house to go through everything one last time and as I read the list of things (I had emailed him a list of mostly stuff for his first-aid suply) I thought he should have he kept saying "I'll use duct tape for that". So he walked to the nearest store from the lodge he was staying at (they had picked him up from the bus stop, fed him dinner, bedded him down, breakfast in the AM and then a ride to the ranger station). I figure that Wednesday he summited Mt.Katahdin, Baxter peak and then got as far a the Katahdin Stream Campgound where he had a reservation. Hopefully he has been putting in at least 10 miles a day since then. He started with a heavy pack as he was into the Hundred Mile Wilderness for his first bunch of days, with more food than he'll carry at any other time in his trip. He plans on calling me when he gets to Monson, ME (115 miles from the start). I'm excited for him, he was a bit frantic in the days before the departure, kinda like tapering I suppose.

Several people at work, including my boss who I've know for 19 years have asked about this adventure. I posted the trail map outside my cube and I'm putting little sticky arrows with dates as he moves along. Lots of hope in this trip, hopefully he'll find enough water, hopefully he'll stay healthy and uninjured, hopefully he'll get to Georgia and the end of the trail before Christmas (so he'll have a ride to the airport). My husband's son lives down there so he has said that if it's before Dec.22 he'll be able to pick him up.

Life is good. But darn that kid got to Maine before I did, I"ll be there on September 30th.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

Babs · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 1652 Location: Athens, Ga

What an exciting journey he is going on. Thanks for the link!
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Logan's, T.S.'s, Lucy's , Conner's, Grace's, Wesley's, Zack's, Abby's and Claire's Grandma
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Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

7-26-12

So the son has gotten through the 100 Mile Wilderness a few days faster than expected. He called today and is going to see about getting to an outfitter tomorrow and buying a hammock with rain fly so he can send his tent and some other heavy stuff home. He said feet weren't too bad compared to a guy he caught up with today. But he is having a bit of an ITBS problem. I told him the stretches to do, he's already taking vitamin I and he has a supply of Biofreeze. He'll work through it or slow down till it loosens up. Said that after dinner he got a cold beer and used it to ice his knee betwen sips.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

8-25-12

wow, more than a month sice I posted... my older son was in Hanover, NH last Thursday. Well into Vermont and he seems really happy. My husband says "of course he is, no job, no bills, total freedom... a young man's dream". Since he started in Maine he seems to have missed all the really hot weather. I just hope he has a snow free fall in the Smokies (November/December)...
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

9-16-12

whatever... only ran 8 of the 20 I was supposed to do, then I got in the pool and water jogged the rest. Two weeks till Portland, ME.

This weekend we got to see one grandkid doing flag footballl, one playing softball (kid pitch) and one playing baseball (kid pitch). I did my long workout Saturday afternoon so I cut myself some slack on not even getting half done on the road. I was tired before I started.

My older son was in Kent, CT on Saturday. He has finished ME, NH, VT, and MA. Next weekend we hope to see him when he makes PA. His brother is down at ODU in Norfolk. My sister are both coming in for a family wedding (10-11-12) and will spend the week, driving to see both of my kids. Busy week. For me it'll be more fun than usual as I'll take four days off of work.

I'm trying to pretend I have any motivation left for anything. I just keep putting one foot in front of another at whatever I'm doing. water jogging has become the best thing I do. Luckily I'm busy at work right now, good project, lots of fun setting up loads of data. I would rather be really busy, let the day fly by. This project will be going to production this weekend so next week might be boring unless something else comes in. Your tax dollars at work, I wish I could be busy more weeks than I am lately. whatever.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

11-10-12

I'm still not motivated, lost my sign on for this board, emailed for a new one, didn't see the email reply and didn't look for it very hard...no excuses, just not motivated for much of anything.

next week I'm supposed to run in Tulsa, OK... no illusions, I'll be happy to finish...

my son pulled off the Appalachian trail this week after a week of cold and snowy hiking. He had pulled off the trail the week before to avoid Sandy and I think spending a few days with his ofrmer rommate and seeing friends "softened" him up. Either that or sleeping in freezing temperatures all this week just made it too miserable for him to continue. So he came off from Pearisburg, VA with 1554 miles done and another 602 or so ahead of him... just waiting for the spring thaw. I am happy he chose to take a break because there is already 3 feet of snow in the Smokies and I would rather he kept all his fingers and toes. He has a huge fluffy beard and sore feet. He is alternately chilled even now (been home since yesterday), 36 hours off the trail. I'm going to make an appointment for a physical and then another for the podiatrist. Get him healthy before he finishes. Maybe he'll get a job while he waits for spring. I could hope.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

leannNO · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 8:27 pm Post subject:

I was wondering how he'd fared with Sandy. Probably smart to take the winter off from the hike.

Good luck in Tulsa!
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stihl going · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 3703 Location: Roads and trails

Hey I understand the not motivated thing. Hopefully that will cure itself. Best of it in Tulsa.
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Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

12-8-12

First day of (poor quality) swimming. wow. my arms feel like they may fall off. I think I need to find my kids swim fins and do more leg only laps. I need the fins as my kick is very weak. I am just not a swimmer. Didn't even remember to look for a pair of goggles to take along. I know we have at least two pair somewhere in the house. I'm already thinking of finding a New Years Day 5K to start the year right. Especially if it stays as warm as it has been.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com

Rita · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 4456 Location: Alexandria, VA

1-4-13

For Christmas my husband got me (among other things) a pair of swim fins...wow... it's just like knowing how to swim really well. Though I did notice that my toes cramp if I use them for more than 10 minutes at a time. So I've added them in with an 'interval' kind of work out where I only put them on for three ten minute segments during the hour I swim. Maybe I'll be able to work up to longer or more. Right now I find my legs are more tired than from running or water jogging the same amount of time (total, one hour). I wonder if this is because I'm really in horrible shape or because the swim fins work the legs so much differently. I'll find out tomorrow as the pool is closed for a swim meet and I'll do an hour of (slow) running for the first time in about a month.
_________________
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves..." Sir Roger Bannister

My son is hiking the Appalchian Trail: http://www.gofundme.com/longwalk

freerice.com