September 18th Preview

Marathoners go up to your peak training distance, 21 miles, this Sunday, and Florence Half runners come down from yours, to 5.5 miles. You’ll be joined by new teammates who are starting their build-up for EWEB, also at 5.5.

Fittingly, that shorter course (with an 8:00 start from the Eugene Running Company) will take you to the EWEB race’s start/finish: Oakway and Coburg Roads to Ferry Street Bridge and don’t cross. Turn left onto bike path, to Autzen footbridge and across. Turn right, to EWEB Plaza. Turn AROUND there and come back the same way: Autzen, Ferry and store. GPS distance is 5.53 miles.

The 21-mile course: same start as above, then at EWEB continue to Owosso footbridge and across. Back to Alton Baker parking lot and turn AROUND there. Back the same way: Owosso, Autzen, Ferry and store. GPS distance is 21.10 miles.

Bring a drink – for delivery at EWEB turnaround and finish of the shorter run… and at EWEB, Alton Baker turnaround and maybe other places (if we get help) in the longer one. Weather forecast: cloudy with with rain likely and starting temperature in 60s, rising to an afternoon high in the 70s.

WEEK 9 & 19 LESSON: YOUR TAPER

Question: How much should I run the last week before my race?

Answer: Run as little as your conscience will allow. It’s too late now, with the race just days away, to do anything that will make it go better. But it’s never too late to make a mistake – most commonly running too far or too fast – that will come back to bite you on race day. Take at least as many rest days as you would before a weekly training run. Take nothing longer than you would on a normal week’s easy run, and ideally shorter. You won’t forget how to run this week, and you’ll race better the more rested you are.