Here we are: The penultimate Tokyo Marathon training wrapup. My what a journey it has been. Here’s how week 1 of taper went.
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Plyo intervals w/2 miles running
Wednesday: Treadmill run 4 miles
Thursday: Strength/bodywork
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 13 miles
Sunday: CrossFit (cut the bench press back to 95# and squat to 145# cuz taper)
It turns out while I’m not in THE last corral in Tokyo, I’m pretty darn close. The charity corral is ahead of mine and I think there are two behind me. After combing through the runner handbook I realized the first sweep is at 5.6k. I’m estimating it’ll take me a good 20 minutes to get off the start line and I’ll have to cover more than 5k in about 40 minutes. While this is doable, the last thing I want to do is have time pressure in the first 5k and risk going out too fast. Looks like I’ll have to. I runfess I lost sleep over this.
If you thought I was out of the woods if I made the 5.6k cutoff, no such luck. The 2nd sweep is at 9.9k. I have an hour and 10 minutes to get there. Again, I can do that. I “practiced” doing that in the first 10k of this week’s long run and came up with a 10 minute buffer. But I really don’t want to go out too fast and death march later. I’ll be ok. There are several other cutoff points along the course but according to Marathon Tours, they are not as stringent, so I’m not going to worry about them. I’m focusing on a strong start and the chips will fall where they may after that.
While I refuse to stress about the on-course hydration that I’ll be forced to use because no packs or handhelds are allowed, I did find it disturbing that the handbook simply calls out water stops and sports drink stops. No detail on what specifically that sports drink might be. They do however give out “glucose”, “salt candy” and “pickled plums” so there’s that. It’s going to be an adventure.
Stuff I Loved This Week
(Google Images)
Free Solo. If the threat of a course sweep scares me, you can imagine how disturbing I’d find rock climbing sans ropes. Free Solo is a documentary about rock climber Alex Honnold’s attempt to conquer the first free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. While much of it is hard to watch because YIKES!, the videography is stunning and the story draws you in. Seriously who would do this?
Valentine’s Day. The Caveman came through with roses he ordered through Amazon Prime Now. A service I’d never heard of but basically you can order something and get it within hours. I received text alerts about his “order” so I knew something was going on. Apparently red roses were out of stock, go figure, but I love these coral and yellow ones just fine and they smell amazing.
We celebrated over dinner at Saranellos on the weekend. The Shrimp Diablo Linguine did not disappoint.
Speaking of pasta (I’m tapering after all) I’d been looking for a pasta recipe that’s full of flavor yet does not have a heavy sauce. The Creamy Garlic Pasta with Parmesan Cheese in Martina’s Kitchen Mix Cookbook is the answer! Holy mama this is good.
I’ve made it several times already. I’m always skeptical when celebs put out cookbooks (do they actually cook??) but Martina’s entire cookbook is a winner. You’ll want to make every single thing in it.
Did Not Love
I’ve been SO very careful of all the ice this winter. Seriously my mantra has been #nobrokenlegs. While I’ve come close to biting it a number of times, knock wood there have been no actual wipe outs. Fast forward to this morning, during yet another snowstorm. It was so slick under the snow. I knew that. I wore my boots. I was as careful as I could be. And still I managed to bite it while walking Ozzy. My feet just slid out from under me and I came down on my behind, letting go of the leash but hanging on to my phone. Thankfully Ozzy stopped and waited for me and I wasn’t hurt at all. But my trip to Tokyo flashed before my eyes. This has been one helluva winter.
Join me right here this Friday for the February edition of the Runfession Friday Linkup!
How was your week? Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Can you fathom climbing without a rope? Any cookbook recommendations?
That’s the second mention of Martina’s cookbook I’ve seen recently. it must be a winner…maybe I should look for it. Knock wood, I have not “bit it” it yet with all this crazy weather. It’s been too treacherous (and/or wet and sloppy on the “warmer” days) to even venture out with Max for a walk. Poor guy…he’s been running laps around his little “business loop” in our back yard LOL
My week sucked because I am in injury denial. Otherwise I was in NYC and met up with a runner friend and saw Billy Joel. Win Win at that account.
I found out in Paris that racing in a foreign country is just different.
Can’t wait to hear how it went. I now that you will be great!!
I love how your “cut back” chest press was 95# and I was excited about doing 65#. I know, we’re all on our own journeys….
I would be a total wreck about that on course fueling, with my tummy troubles and all. I wonder if Pam (Two Runners Travel) would know what the fuel is? Unless they change it every year.
Glad you are ok after your wipe out. I’m so over this winter!!
Well, obviously our whole trip was basically my birthday present + I got a much needed new iPad. I guess you could say we celebrated. 😊
Sorry about the wipeout. Glad you weren’t hurt & Ozzy stayed! Lola & Chester were trained to stop if I dropped the leash. I once didn’t hook up Lola right & the leash came off & she just trotted along with me (luckily no other dog in sight).
I know you’ll do fine in Tokyo but I’m sure the weird rules are stressful.
Ugh! That sounds like the fall I took a few weeks ago. So glad you weren’t hurt! I actually like the different colored roses!
I understand why races have time limits, but having hem so soon seems to put a lot of pressure on the later corrals. I’m sure you’ve got this. I know you’ve got this. You’ve got this!
Hmm pickled plums? Trying to imagine what those taste like. Those race marshals would not dare scoop you up! I am not worried at all about you crushing this with flying colors.
i’m still baffled by the Tokyo limits. I know that’s how they do things but it just seems super unfair, especially going by gun time!
Oh no! I gasped when I read that you fell on the ice but glad to hear that you are okay. Also I love that Ozzy waited for you – he’s a good pup!
OMG I watched Free Solo for the first time last night and it was INSANELY GOOD! I’ve heard both Alex and the directors talk on different podcasts so it was great to finally see the movie. It’s so inspiring and the videographers capture the beauty of the mountains so well. Never something I would do though haha
So glad you didn’t hurt yourself on that fall! We did celebrate Valentine’s day. Chocolate, lunch and cake!
I would love to do an overseas marathon, but that would totally worry me with all the logistics. I don’t celebrate Valentine’s day…he did get me flowers but normally we are pretty low key. It’s just not our favorite holiday.
Are you guys not doing the Tuesdays on the Run link up anymore? I haven’t seen a post in a while and I was looking for it the other week…
Your roses are so beautiful! My hubby surprised me with some yellow and pink roses that are so unique looking too! I hear you about the marathon, I am so particular about my hydration and having my pack that i would go bonkers not knowing or not being able to bring it.
You have had a great training cycle and will rock this race. I’ve been reading about all of the restrictions and sweeps and ‘ladies with the balloons’. I will be terrified when I eventually make my way to Tokyo. I read a blog post last week by someone who was swept at 19 miles, just 3 seconds behind – they are that strict. She had stopped to take multiple pics along the way prior to that point. Imagine how that would feel! They say they loosen up at around 35K. Also, conversation in the FB group says Pocari Sweat is the fuel on the course. You can buy it on Amazon if you want to try it before race day. People said it tastes like lemonade or mild grapefruit. Someone else said it tastes like Naked Tailwind.
Sorry about the fall – so glad you weren’t hurt!
The early Tokyo cutoffs just boggle my mind – especially given that they’re going by gun vs. chip time. You’ve got this Marcia I have no doubt!
Free Solo was incredible. I had such anxiety throughout the whole movie, even though I knew he lived. The videographer Jimmy Chin is from Minnesota!
Marcia I can totally understand the stress of Tokyo. Actually this is the one reason I know I can’t do Tokyo right now. I need to be sure I can beat the sweeps and right now I just don’t know. But you can do this. This is just what you do!! Miss First Marathon Boston Qualifier! Never forget that when the moment calls to dig deep, you know exactly how to do that. I am SO excited for you and know you are going to make it!!
No Valentine’s celebrations for us – I went to BodyPump! No I cannot fathom doing something like that without a rope OMG!!! The only cookbook I can recommend is the Indian cookbook Ron has that looks like it’s been through a meat grinder is so well used!
I am with Darlene, racing in a foreign country is just different but you have the right experience to race at the best. I remember many years ago, the night before a 10 miles in Edinburgh I ate, for the first time (and I didn’t know what it was) the haggis. That was not a night but a nightmare. The lesson learned was: before a race eat only the food you know”.
Your flowers are beautiful! How thoughtful of your hubby <3 I can't imagine climbing much of anything, let alone climbing a rope! Heights make me sweat bullets – though it does look like a fun adventure. The cutoffs at Tokyo would make me stress a little but you've got this! Enjoy this journey and take a million pictures please! I can't imagine traveling that far for a marathon and it's SO COOL that you get to go! And share your recap with all of us of course 🙂
Those taper times are so random but oh so Japanese
The glucose may be Pocari Sweat. It’s vile, but I got used to it somehow. Pickled plums. Yum. Umeboshi onigiri are my crack. Also pickled cucumbers which are kind of like but not exactly american pickles.
I can just imagine your anxiety about those sweeps but I know you’ve got this. As for not being allowed to carry handhelds that really took me by surprise! I guess they have their reasons. But at this stage, I would say, you’ve done all you can to get to this point. You’ve worked hard and you are so strong. I can’t wait to see you holding that medal at the end!
Oh man, I have such a fear of falling down, especially when it’s slick outside. Thankfully, you didn’t hurt yourself!!
I’ve got anxiety for you in re: those sweeps!! And the fact that you don’t know what they’ll be serving for sports drinks. Oh boy. But, what more can you do? The hay is in the barn, so to speak, and it’s time to get ready to go have some fun!
And no. Nope. Not climbing without a rope. Probably not even climbing WITH a rope. lol
My new favorite cookbook is “The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen” by Samantha Ferraro. I have not yet found a recipe that I didn’t like. Food stains everywhere. (I may be a little messy. Don’t judge me. lol)