So This is Taper...?

Goal: 5 miles easy
Actual: 3.9mi. @ 8:07/mi.

Although my previous understanding of tapering for this distance was that I shoud not run a single mile this final week before the race, I was inspired by the local champion of ultra, Jonathan Savage's taper before going into his 2nd place finish at the North Coast 24 Hour National Championships.  I have had a number of conversations with Jonathan to this point about all things ultra and trusted that I had a fair grasp of the difference between his limits and my own.  Maybe reading Jonathan's Wiki on his 24-hour was just the excuse I needed to justify the run I had been hankering for, but I was glad to get out and get a few miles with the CRC crew at the Wednesday AM Dowd run as this would also be my only run for the week before the race.  I spent a couple typical 7:30 miles with the group -- Chrisman, Custer, Khan, Linz, Mainwaring, and Maye, then decided to be smart and cut back to the Dowd nice and easy at my own pace.

At this point, I've put in the hours and hours and hours and miles and miles and miles and more than enough two-a-days and three-a-days by now.  I cannot stress anymore, all I can do is go out and trust.  Christi and I will be camping out Friday night before the race then waking up in time to prepare myself for one long 24 hour period.  My current plan is to go out and essentially complete 3 separate marathons with solid walking/eating the laps in between.  I do not want to stop moving before sundown except to change shoes/socks.  Even when I am just running, I don't intend to let my average get any faster than 9:00 pace.  The key is to take it nice and easy embracing the slow and steady that my training has taught me.  No matter what I accomplish, it will all be thanks to God's wondrous work in my life.