6 Day Taper to Victoria Marathon

….and counting.  So what has my tapering run strategy been?  Let me try to put this in an organized fashion:

3 Weeks Prior to Marathon - My weekend run was a half marathon race.  It was great for my speed as I really gave it everything I had (and felt great too).  During the week, I cut out one of my regular 6 mile runs to cut down on my weekly mileage.

2 Weeks Prior to Marathon - the weekend run was another half marathon.  Only this one was a training run at training pace.  I took it easy and just put in the distance.  During the week I kept it at 2 - 6 milers (leaving my third 6 miler out).  I was at our home in the mountains, where it is difficult running because it’s both either up hill or down hill and you are training in altitude and always sucking wind (breathing hard).

1 Week Prior to Marathon - the weekend run this time was approx 6-1/2 miles which I ran as fast as I could.  Again I felt great which is a real confidence booster for me with the marathon literally around the corner.  My mind is preoccupied with race day and the weather.  It’s been raining alot lately and I’m just hoping it’s not raining next Sunday.  This week I will do a slow 6 miler and then a slow 4 miler (2 days apart).  Then the day before the marathon I always go out for a slow mile run.  I swear by this as it gets the oxygen flowing through the blood and calms my nerves.