I’m a tired lady.
That’s really it. This is the last week of studying before that silly test that will help me do the things I want to do. What I’ve realized is that as much as I hate to admit it, Oprah was flippin right. About running. She said, “Running is the greatest metaphor for life because you get out of it what you put in.” Now I am 99% sure this is some sort of logical fallacy, but I really couldn’t care less because I can back it up.
What I mean to say is that life imitates running. When I started my TPR class, one of the teachers compared prepping for the test with running a marathon in the sense that he could help us all he could in the 2.5 hrs a week he saw us, but if we didn’t get our own asses in gear, it would be like working with Meb Keflezghi (ok ok he didn’t use Meb as an example, but I want to) 2.5 hrs a week, then sitting around eating Cheetos (yum) and expecting to run a 2:18 (ok so he didn’t say 2:18, but I thought I would add some details…a la “July, July”…if anyone gets why I used that reference without looking up the lyrics holler acha gurl).
I digress. So really, the point of this is to say that I have been doing my Sunday long runs, my fartleks and my tempo runs. And this week is the crunch time (i.e. about 2-3 weeks before the big race) when the workouts are crucial. Break down that muscle fiber now, so it builds up more strongly come race day. Create muscle memory and learn how to push yourself to go harder and faster particularly when the pain sets in. Tap into the glycogen stores.
Thusly, after working an eight hour day and coaching for two hours and going on a quick run, I have spent each night this week at Stella’s powering though passages, focusing on my form, using my arms to drive my knees (“Pull straight back with your elbows”), and erm…well…POEing my brains out. Woot for mixed metaphors.
This means, next week is like the last 10 days before the big race. Recover your muscles, but still keep them active. Taper taper taper.
And my verbal teacher compared this all to performing opera. Pssssssshhh.
Also, this test looks more like a 10k than a marathon. And I’m aiming for negative splits and a HUGE PR.
So 19 hours after I got up this morning, I’m crashing………………..
