Welcome to Taper Town

It’s been eight years since I’ve trained for a marathon and nine years since I last ran the New York City Marathon.

I don’t have to tell you the obvious thing; a lot changes in nine years. Overall my approach to running has changed significantly. Back then I ran to run. I was sorting out all sorts of personal issues and running was what I did to manage. It was the piece of my life where I sought out the comfortable and the familiar.

How that translated through out my training plan was running junk mile after junk mile. I also feared the unknown and pushing beyond my comfort zone.

At mile 19 during our 22-miler on Sunday I felt joyful as I thought about the significance of completing this long run. Taper town was right in front of me and I couldn’t believe I made it this far.

During training for my second and third marathon, the taper meant barely running. This time the taper means reducing my mileage but keeping the intensity and speed.

I still have two runs to complete at goal marathon pace, three speed workouts and three tempo runs. This time around training is so much different than in the past and I love it so much more.

Taper town is a good place to be!