Last week was a good week for a lot of us.  I'm just thrilled that Perry ran more mileage in one race (51+) than I did in one week (50).

Kicked off my very first taper with 5 miles this morning.  I've never tapered, so what should I expect?

Amazing run for you, Perry. Had you planned on that for awhile? I don't remember hearing you talking of really long distance training... other than 18 miles on a stupid track.

Welcome to taper, Paul! I used to hate it, but now I really look forward to it. Maybe because I typically do a 2 week taper now. What to expect? You'll question the quality and validity of your training. You'll feel very unprepared to run a marathon. You'll start finding new aches and pains every day, and as taper progresses (and mileage decreases) you'll get cranky and irritable. Just when you think you've thrown away all your hard work and training on a stupid layoff period, you'll run a marathon that'll knock your socks off. Be ready for it. 

As for me, I ran a very difficult 20 miler yesterday in pretty lousy running conditions. If I had to run all my runs like this, I'd take up swimming. But I'm glad I did it yesterday, because as slippery and snowy as it was yesterday, today it's even worse with freezing rain, treacherous roads and travel advisories all day. So, I'll take that 20 miler, capping off a 55.2 mile week and say hello taper! I'm stuck at home today though, so I'll probably go downstairs for a short treadmill run just so I don't spend the whole day on my butt.

Paul, what's the web site for your race? We'd like to keep tabs on you when the big day arrives!

Erika: I signed up for it early summer, I think. I didn't do the traditional long, long runs, so I felt I was undertrained, but I did do some back-to-back long runs, so I figured (hoped) I could slog through it. Which I did. Miles 30-40 were tough -- pain, soreness, and fatigue. But hitting the 40mi aid station in daylight really made me happy, and I had fun running in -- except I'd prefer to end in daylight.

Way to go on the 5 minute turnaround, Bugs.  I could never do that.  And I bet I smell worse than you do after a run.  

Tough run, Erika.  Freezing rain, yikes!  Glad you didn't have that Sunday.

Paul - what Erika said and more.  I'll try to remember to forward the "maraparanoia" paper which was sent to us from the Freedom's Run Marathon RD, but I can't right now.

Perry - the guys in my club say ultras are easier than marathons.  What do you think?  I think they were talking about 50K's, though, not 50M's, though.

8.3 miles @ 7:58/mi, including 10 striders.  Good workout.

So I had this dream.  I am not sure what led up to this but I was flying in a plane, looking at trails we might run on.  But Harriet wasn't happy about me going up in a plane.  So I am flying along and there are some planes I have to avoid.  All of a sudden a helicopter kind of got in front of me.  Well it was a cop and I ended up landing and he landed with me.  He gave me a ticket.  For failure to yield.  To Harriet.  heh

Lou -- funny dream.

I'm a much a newbie at ultras, of course. Also I've not raced one. I think jogging a marathon is easier than jogging 50M. But I can't speak to racing a marathon (plenty painful) to racing a 50M (which I've not really done).  In my extremely limited experience, ultras have seemed more laidback, and less high intensity/stressful -- in the way people felt and approached them.

• 52mi was Sat. (several mi of walking near end, which may have helped give me an unplanned built-in warmdown)
• Sun did 4mi, which started out really slow and painful and uncomfortable form due to blisters and soreness, but progressed to slow and comfortable, and felt good afterward
• Mon did abt 7mi with some friends. Felt good most of it, but legs started feeling sore near end
• Tue (today) toes hurt a bit (blisters). Did 4mi or so easy, felt good except toes hurting. Ran 2000 fast pacing a friend thru the end of his 3200 interval, and it felt really good to go fast.

Lou,

I stink most of the time. Take last night, six miles on the TM, I crawled into bed with clothes and got up and ran this morning. (Then I did shower.)

Erika,

Marathon sounds fun! Wish I could travel to one. No money, too much work at work.

7.5 miles in cold wind. Glad to get it in before the big storm hits. Legs were tired this morning, running last night and them up at 4:20 a.m. not ideal.

Ran 3 miles with a friend this morning... have the reverse situation as Bugs, as I cut my run way short since we are supposed to LEAVE soon, as in now, to go to DC but when I got back, no one was ready.     Ah well, no worries... maybe I can run again later tonight.

Bugs, you better pick a race to make all this running show off.

Back to my debate about the 5K and my daughter...problem is, she's not a super strong runner.  My biggest concern is she'll get out there and not want to finish.   So, we'll see....

Off to DC and then the 5K in the morning.

She's Super-Bugs.