Yes, I'm still out here in the "Blogosphere". I've been running with only one brief slowdown due to a minor flare-up of tendinitis in my left ankle. That's what happens to "Running Geezers!"
My marathon is scheduled for October 12th. I am running the "Mohawk-Hudson Marathon" in Albany, NY. Actually, it is a point-to-point race from Schenectady to Albany. 18 miles of the run are on paved trails along the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. The course has a net elevation drop of 307 feet. It will be a small marathon as the field is limited to 650 runners! I am looking forward to the cooler weather that awaits us.
With one more long run scheduled for September 20th, 24 miles, we have begun talking about "TAPERING". The October issue of "Runner's World" has an article on the subject. They also have several articles from years past available on-line. Following the long run, our mileage and intensity will decrease as we near race day. In the past I have followed a similar schedule, with little distance during the week prior to the race.
Several key points that "Runner's World" raises are; "athletes can achieve an optimal taper if they reduce their mileage by 41 to 60 percent but keep the training frequency steady. Additionally, they say, "marathoners need at least two to three weeks of reduced volume."
Do you taper? How do you approach the two weeks prior to a marathon?
