3 today. I feel bad I have nothing to add to this great conversation!

Erica, I do plan on doing the walk/run at the start of the race. I think I commented on running slow. But I plan on run/walking at the start of the race. Basicaly to flip the marathon and do it on my own terms. So, if I do this for about 8 miles (and possibly again over the uphill miles) I will go into my normal run til (hopefully) the finish. If I went with my normal strategy Id run til about mile 18 and crash--I figure--do some walking early to be fresh when I go to straight running..and if I do get to the point where I crash it should be later in the race than normal..and Ill be more likely to suck it up the last 2 miles than if it happened with 8-10 miles to go. My schedule did have a 17 miler this weekend. But thats probably not smart since I decided on the full. Im thinking of doing that run Thursday night as my test. I will run/walk the first 8, and jog the last 9. I'll see how that feels. Im off for my run tonight. Will stick to 4. May run walk a mile or two by feel to see what kind of pace that puts me at.

Did four miles at a 5/1 run/walk. It was faster than I would have thought - an 11:45 pace. It was comfortable--but I think I need to slow down from that for this to be effective. I will probably do my long run Thursday. And I will probably run/walk the entire way. Figure if thats the race pace of my run/walk, I will try to go that way for 20 miles during my race..and if Im doing well, try to run the rest (that starts the downhill portion). I aso believe that 20+ is bonus time. Any extended period of running after 20 miles is better than what Ive done recently.

Kimmie, your coach is right. If you can recover from it and be in good shape for your marathon, go for it. Sometimes I think I prefer a two-week taper anyway.... Bugs, that's funny. All of it. BTW, my DH said if we run Des Moines he can find someone to put us up... Well, bottom line is, I'm busy that weekend so can't do it anyway. Rats. Hey, one of these days we WILL run a marathon together, ok?? I ran at lunch today, ate too much tonight. I hate it when we get home late and I get soooo hungry before dinner, so I munch and nibble until dinner is ready and then I get too full! Oy. We had to go vote right after work and then went shopping, so didn't get home till after 6. Now I'm too full, too tired and cranky.

Thanks you guys. I'm trying to be smart and not stubborn this time. Runners are great people, but we knew that already didn't we? Last night while we were running on the trail, a girl on a bicycle started to come around us.... We were not in her way. And we hear this "Whoa... whoa!" She veered off the path and onto the gravel and fell into the ditch. Of course we stopped and helped her up. One guy in our group ran back to where we started to get his car. Others helped her hobble down to the closest street. She seemed to be dealing with some minor bruises on her leg. The guys in our group told us to continue our run. I felt kind of guilty... a little like... "Yeah, you're ok lady? Because I'm trying to do a tempo run here." So we ended up needing to cut it a little short since it was getting dark, but we still got some faster miles in. So when we got back to the store, I saw the guy who had drove her home and told him how nice he was. He said that she lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building and he CARRIED her up three flights of stairs. Hope she's ok today. When I told my DH this story he said "Was she good looking?" What does that have to do with anything? After the run, our running coach gave a seminar on marathon preparation. I almost didn't go since I've run others in the past but I am so glad that I did. I was reminded of some of the basics. Mostly having a very well thought out plan. And he went over the course map and I realized that there is a MAJOR hill on the course that wasn't there the last time I ran it. Dave, do you know about the Reservoir at mile 8? I'm guessing you do. I also asked our coach what I should shoot for... he said sub 4 is definitely possible. Who knows? But it's nice when you hear from someone who knows more than you do. Today's going to be another lunch time run. Have a good day all.

Kimmie, I have done a 2 week taper (June 2007), but I really needed it, it was also a PR. Nobby is really against them and honestly I think I prefer a 3 week with the last long run of over 20 miles and very fast or at least progressive. Nobby has his girl for TCM do a three hour very hard run 3 weeks out. So if you have a last LR that is just normal pace or progressive, well maybe that's not much different than what he would suggest. I kind of screwed up this training time, that last LR is really important, plan it carefully. I think you will be under four. Your running group sounds fun. I'd be nervous some stranger carriyng me. Hope he got her phone number for his efforts. Would make a great love story. Erika, Hym, that would be really funny, when DH asked where we are staying, "someone my Internet's DH knows." Yes then he would really think my heads screwed on wrong. As a teenager I use to hang out with lots of rodeo guys (cute butts) and they were dirt poor and always going from town to town. They hitch hiked everywhere and slept anywhere, all for the thrill of eight seconds (most of the time less). I hope this running obsession doesn't turn to that. You must be eating for me too. This dam TMJ, I can't eat anything but soup and ice cream. I should be hungry as all hell this week, but can hardly stomach food. And YES we are going to run together one. Hell ya! Murphy, How many marathons will this be for you? I've had some good luck when it comes to money lately, but I really should spend it on fixing up my house or something wise..maybe the affordable stock market. DH really needs a car. People seem to think it's better to buy stuff. I think it's better to spend money making experiences and on people. So I know it wouldn't phase me to spend money flying to a race, hotels, etc.., but time is always an issue. I do worry about my body breaking down though. I'm going to run at lunch. I'm trying to forget I ran a marathon and just tell myself I ran a LR last weekend.

Now this is funny, in a good way. Kimmie, I was just logging in to ask the same questions. We've got a "Mock Marathon" here 2 weeks before the marathon (just an organized run on the same course, run as far as we want) and I was wondering if it was a good idea to do my last 20 that day. For me, it will definitely be an easy pace becaues I need to get used to dad's pace (10:45/mile). So, recovery shouldn't be a problem as I usually recover well from long runs as long as I keep the pace easy. So, all that said, should I try a 20 miler 2 weeks out, or stick to what worked last time and do my last 20 miler 3 weeks out? By the way, I know some of you have hillier marathons that me, but check out the elevation map. Kinda putting us to sleep with a nice flat course, only to punish us with some hills at mile 22 or 23. http://www.route66marathon.com/Participant-Info/course-maps.html

Brian, elevation profiles are funny things. Look at the change in ft... from just before 22 to mile 23 you climb about 100 feet. No biggie. It's just setting you up for a nice zip down to the finish! Bugs, I like to spend money on experiences too. But having something leftover to retire on would be nice!