David Wade's Marathon Training Blog: The Worst Week Yet

Here's something I learned about marathon training: you run a lot. For weeks and weeks, you run. Sometimes you run far.

In my case, you have a little sheet of paper detailing how far you need to run and when you need to run. My little sheet came courtesy of my running partner and seven time marathoner Scott Miles (I'm pretty sure his last name is fake- the way a weather guy might call himself Stormy Jones.) The sheet said on March 29th I would have to run 21 miles. I did that.

The few weeks after that are called the "taper." The little sheet basically says "Stop running so far." The taper is the chance for your body to rest and recover for marathon day.

The taper sounds awesome. It's like when you are little and your parents say "If you are good until X, Y, Z happen, then mommy and daddy will buy you a toy." Nice. As a kid you think, "All I have to do is keep my big mouth shut, not ask any ridiculous questions, not pick up any toys and say 'can I have this' and I'll get a cool new toy." That's the taper. It's the toy you get if you are good and do all your running like a good little boy or girl.

Well, well, well. Let me tell you. The taper stinks. It's the worst toy ever. It's a like a Whoopee Cushion with a tear in it.

What don't I like? The crippling anxiety. Yes, that's definitely it. The anxiety of not running very far. A couple of miles here. A few miles there. It's supposed to be good medicine for the legs, but it's also terrible on the psyche. It's easy to forget all the long runs in the snow and all the hard work when you're tapering. It's easy to think you're throwing it all away. It's easy to think you have forgotten how to run far.

My little sheet says I'm doing everything right. But I'm not convinced. I'll guess I'll find out on Monday. On a related note, I've been told if I'm "really, really good and run all 26.2 miles, I can get a toy." A shiny B.A.A medal.

UPDATES:

• This week I surpassed my $4,000 fundraising goal for Autism Speaks! Thanks to you all for being so generous.
• Oh, I got the stomach bug this week. First my son, then my wife, then my daughter… and then me. My GPS app says I did 2.62 miles between my bedroom and the bathroom. Sorry. Too much. I'm an over sharer.
• Finally, my bib number is #31281 if you want to track me and see if I'm gaining on Meb Keflezighi.