Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Taper taper taper

I'm starting to get antsy. I wish Saturday would hurry up and get here--I just want to run. It's getting to the point where I'm suffering from paranoia about getting sick or injured. I even had a bizarre dream in which I was at the marathon but had forgotten my shoes. I woke up and was so incredibly relieved that it wasn't real that I had to take deep breaths to slow my heart rate. It seems silly to stress out so much over a road race, but when you spend months preparing, it begins to loom large. I think I'm going to pack tonight, so I can check and recheck my bag a few times before leaving on Thursday.

Yesterday was my last run of any meaningful effort. It was actually quite a bit too fast, and I hope I don't regret it. Another group run from INRunCo. I went 5.3 miles in an average pace of 8:41. Yipes! I truly did not feel that we were going so fast. I was planning on a 4-miler at MP of 9:00. Oops. I also ran on Sunday with Mark, Michelle, and Becky. I ran a few beforehand and then ran six miles of the Red Eye Relay course to round out 9.4 miles for my last cutback long run. I'll run twice more before the race: tomorrow and Friday, for a total of 4-5 more miles. Oh, and let the carbo-loading begin! I'm trying this concept of cutting back for a few days, then amping it up to 70-80% with three days to go. Let me tell you, I don't know how the low-carb dieters do it! I am used to eating some kind of pasta or rice dish almost every night. Not to mention a lot of pretzels and bagels. Mmm, I love me some carbs.

I heard from friends on the current team that my former coach at Knox has been fired. He was kind of a polarizing figure--a good coach, extremely knowledgeable and well-organized with the most uncanny memory for numbers of anyone I've ever met. This guy could probably still tell me all my PRs and my old address. Heck, I could ask him what time I ran at the conference XC meet my freshman year and he would probably tell me (I don't even remember that--I think it was 22 something). But, he had weird social skills and could never reconcile his need to be competitive with his job at Knox, a school notorious for the lack of competitiveness in its sports teams. Although our teams have had moments of brilliance, we are generally mediocre. It's simply not the focus for the majority of students. Put another way, you just don't go to Knox to play sports. So anyway, his frustration at our suckiness was always evident. I think this was always the biggest problem. From it stemmed issues with retention, recruiting, and overall team numbers. For all his pushing, we regularly finished near the bottom of the conference. But he did help me and many others improve. He was great for the self-motivated athlete, but he alienated so many people who were less serious about running that the team was hamstrung. Sometimes I really just didn't like him, but at the same time I watched him adjust and try to make the best of the situation at Knox. He always tried to do better and I have to give him credit for that. It was hard at first to get past the brusque exterior but once you do he's not a bad person at all. Sigh. It's a real shame. I can only hope that the new coach will be as diligent in keeping alumni connected to the accomplishments of the team. Will there still be a Homecoming invitational? Monthly newsletters? I'm trying not to get my hopes up. It's weird that this happened just as the freshman class when I was a senior is graduating. Now I don't know anyone on the team and I won't know the coach either. I feel totally disconnected.

10 comments:

Mike said...

nice run..

it's tough to let college stuff go. Sounds like some of the emotional upheaval of the taper is seeping into the blog a little.

hope to say "HI" this weekend.

i'll be the guy in the running shorts.

if i don't see you, have a good run!!!!

DawnB said...

Nice workout!!! I keep reading about all these great workouts!! Just a few more days to go!! Sorry to hear about the coach. Maybe the alumi should get a welcome letter together to the new coach letting him know what you would like to see continue and changes you would like to see!!! nice way to give a chance to make good!!!

Nitmos said...

The taper is playing with my mind as well. I start questioning whether or not I'm at the same level of conditioning by pulling back on miles. I'm sure I am but....

Trust the taper, trust the taper.

Best wishes for a terrific race!

Al Durham said...

I feel the taper mental pain. I ran about 5 miles last night, and I felt like a chanied up dog that was not allow to run more. I hope Saturday gets here faster than normal.

jen said...

Great job on the run! I always find that right before the marathon my pace is faster, so I'm not too surprised. The goal pace will feel relaxed and easy on race day.

Enjoy the carbo loading! I think I carbo load every day so I find it hard to eat extra carbs. :D

I'm getting excited for you!! :) Think lots of positive thoughts, and don't let any negative thoughts linger in your head. Visualize your perfect race!! :)

Nuke Runner said...

Good luck Saturday! I totally understand about the anxiety before a marathon; after all it's an event that takes over three months of specific training, months of base building....
But you've put in a lot of good training and you're ready.
P.S. Remember to take it easy at the start. I've never completed a marathon and wished I'd run the first few miles faster.

Diana said...

Have a great time, honey. We'll be thinking of you all weekend!

DawnB said...

Just came by to wish you a great race!!!and most of all have some fun!!!

GB said...

44 Miranda Higdon Bloomington IN 25 761 4:14:20.90 4:15:15.85 00:54.95 9:42/M

GREAT job Mir!!!! That looks like a new PR to me. Way to go, girl. Can't wait to read the race report. You're awesome!

jen said...

CONGRATS Miranda!!! I looked up your results and you rocked it! YAY! Can't wait to hear the full report. Congratulations!! :)