Well, we’re almost half way into the first week of a three week taper. It doesn’t really feel like a taper yet. I’ve been reading and reviewing theories and protocols on tapering and everyone seems to have their own ideas an opinions to how much you should be doing of what. So, I’m trying to adapt and incorporate the best ideas from each plan and fit tailor them me knowing my strengths and weaknesses. The unifying theme throughout all the theories is to maintain intensity while you decrease volume steadily. After weeks of going long, the idea of backing off with a date with destiny just around the corner is nerve racking. Sometimes, you just have to believe…

So… yesterday was my final long run of the season. FINAL. LONG. RUN! For those of you who have tuned in for a while, I’m sure you know by now that my running is my Achilles heel. I tolerate it, but I don’t think that even after three years that I can say I like it. I like that I’m making progress. I like that it burns the most calories per hour of the three sports. But I don’t know that I ever get excited to be able to go out for a run, which is probably why it remains my Achilles heel. I’ll probably try and do eight or nine miles still for a longer run next week. That’s going to feel like a cake walk compared to the stuff I’ve been doing for the previous weeks.

I’m not entirely certain what I have in store for this weekend. Part of me wants to follow the “reduce 10-20% from last week” plan (ala Dave Scott from his most recent article in Triathlete Magazine) and ride 80-90 miles this weekend. Another source (Friel and Byrn from Going Long) says to do a four hour brick which would mean only 60 miles and an hour run afterwards. Hmmm… maybe 75 miles and a 45 minute run afterwards would be a good compromise? I’ll play it by ear and see.

I’m still feeling good and am in good spirits. I constantly have to remind myself to take it easy and that I’m supposed to arrive at each workout this week fresh and worried that I’m not doing enough. At this mornings swim session, there was a set of 6×175 on the 2:30 right at the hour mark of practice. That definitely an aerobic set, but probably harder than I should be swimming at this point. So I packed it up after 3 of them and got out, worried that I wasn’t doing enough. Tonight, I’m planning to ride with the tri club (if the weather holds up) or a date with the trainer for an hour. A hour on the bike? I normally wouldn’t even put on my gear to just ride for an hour. As happy as I should be that I get to relax a little, I’m bouncing off the walls on the inside.

Most importantly… the Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow! Thank God I’ve already hit my goal weight. It is entirely possible that I throw down 10,000 calories in an afternoon there. If I can limit myself to half of that, I’ll consider the day a success!

Happy hump day, all! :)