Two For Two

I don't know why I thought my taper started last week. I don't call 5 runs in 6 days, ending with a 2:25 today any kind of 'taper.' Some might, not me. But that's what my schedule called for, so I did it. Only now do I get to truly slack off until the 23rd.

I got hopelessly lost a couple of times on this morning's run so I've got no idea how far I actually went. But that was made up for by the perfect running conditions, and the gorgeous colours. I think I caught the last weekend of the vivid golds and flames. I loved having it 'rain' leaves around me in Flushing Meadows and Forest Park, and the singular noise of my feet crunching through the trails.

I would have predicted being a lot happier and excited right now than I am. My first marathon in 2004 was immediately preceded by Bush winning the election. I was so distraught, disillusioned, miserable (not to mention perplexed) that whole week that it marred the lead up to my race. Of course, this time is the complete opposite. Like so many, the elation I felt on Tuesday night was unparalleled. But since then I've sunk back into the slump I've been in for a couple weeks now. I don't want to put all the blame on my training (it's mostly just me being pathetic), but life seems very one dimensional just now - I haven't been socializing much, or reading, or....well, just about anything save for working and running. And to be honest, that's gotten very boring and lonely.

I hope to rectify that after Philly - at least for a short while between schedules. I'm too much of a cold-weather runner to miss the chance to do a spring marathon. A bunch of Hellgaters seem to be planning on this Nashville marathon in April, and I'm thinking I just might join them. It sounds like a lot of fun.

In the meantime, I have 14 days to regain some of the excitement for Philly that I had a while back.

Philly Training Week 16/18
Monday: 5.4
Tuesday: 6.6
Wednesday: 5
Thursday: 8+
Friday: Off
Saturday: 16+ (?)
Sunday: Off
Total: 41+