Hyannis Half Plus, or How Coach P Learned the Value of Tapering
This year marked my umpteenth (which stands for more than ten) completions of the Hyannis Half Marathon. A great early season race, this event used to hold the distinction of the "last" Boston qualifier before, well, you had to qualify with a faster time, a great Internet connection or the willingness to fork over $7,500 for a charity slot. NOT A TYPO. 
But I digress...
As many of you know, I am planning to run forty miles on my fortieth birthday to raise money for Charity:Water (details here). I gave up my birthday last year, and am doing it again because it's a no-brainer. Besides, why just run 40 miles for myself? 
On a selfish note, one of the reasons why this age / endurance milestone has appealed to me is the fact that it doesn't really involve speed. After essentially taking off August through early December last year, I have lost a great deal of fitness. The only gains I have made are in areas that...um...I'd rather not disclose. Suffice it to say my "race fitness" jeans have been relocated. But really just trying to get back into training by murdalizing myself to attain previous fitness levels has ZERO appeal to me. Hence this endurance project focused almost exclusively on running...not that different than Coach Rich's "single sport block" although I am clearly taking some liberties with the running (shhhhh, don't tell him!).
ANYWAY, back to today.
Note: Am I about to hi-five someone or am I pushing other runners to the finish? YOU decide!!
Today I decided to do the Hyannis Half Marathon, but add on another 10k loop (the old 10k course). That plus my warm up should put me over 20 miles. Combined with yesterday's 13 mile run, this would make for my biggest weekend (33 miles) and my biggest week of running ever (70.25 baby). I was feeling pretty good after the 13-miler yesterday, and figured that 7:30s would be a good target.
When I started out though, my "you'd better slow down" alarm kicked in and I saw a 7:50 first mile...and another...and more. It was clear to me that the fatigue I had been feeling was giving the beat down to my newfound love for just running and all those endorphins. My enthusiasm was further tempered by just how crowded the 8-minute per mile pace "group" really is...wow. Over the course of the day, though, things improved. My legs loosened up a bit as the pace built around mile 11 for most folks running the half. I was able to carry that through, running low 7:00s to bring my final pace down to 7:36 today for 21 miles.
I don't know how much a 13 miler at 7:25 pace and a 21 miler at 7:36 pace -- completed within 24 hours -- really can simulate a 40-mile run... but I sure as hell hope I won't feel any WORSE. 
Congrats to all who ran, including TeamEN's own Simon Shurey who looked great out there. T-minus 12 days to 40 miles...almost taper time baby!
Comments
@Paul...yikes! (But you must be so proud)