After a couple days of easy taper workouts I’m finally on my way to NYC where I’ll compete in the North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain. Right now I’m sitting in the airport thinking back on the last few days. For a lot of runners the tapering part of the training is painful because they’ve taken the last 12-16 weeks busting their butts to get into race ready shape and then have to pull back on the training before the race. This leaves them with a feeling of restlessness that can really only be felt if you’ve gone through the weeks of grueling training and then cut off by the taper. I have had the feeling of restlessness that comes from the taper in the past, but this week hasn’t been too bad. I feel like I’m catching up on sleep and muscular recovery, and it really feels great!
Every part of this training has gone really smooth. I was even able to find my favorite race fuel Sport Beans at my first stop today. My training the last few days has consisted of 70% effort workouts and tomorrow I’ll do an easy interval running workout on the track near the East River in NYC. Tomorrows workout will be my last training before the race on Saturday. Other than the easy workout tomorrow will be a day of eating and picking up my race packet from the North Face Store on the Upper West Side.
As I’m sitting here in the SeaTac Airport there is a group of people transfixed on a nearby TV that’s playing the Lakers NBA playoff game. I’m sorry, but the NBA players give such a half assed effort that I can’t believe that people actually watch this stuff.
Anyway let me give you a rundown of what are my essentials are for the race day. I have my race day black Nike shorts that have an added third pocket that I wish all shorts had, my blue 64 ounce CamelBak hydration backpack, bright red Brooks Cascadia trail shoes, The North Face running socks, The North Face running shirt, 6 packets of Sports Beans (3 with caffein), and a tube of Nuun electrolyte tabs. The race will provide a number of aid stations with everything from gel packets to PB sandwiches.
Well my plane is boarding so I’m off! I hope to write a blog about the event on Sunday so stay tuned!
