Hesitating to taper

stats of the week: run 51 km, cycled 124 km, gym 2 h

This week doesn't look like tapering and in fact it isn't. However, I urgently had to do at least one long run. This one on Tuesday with 28 km was too late and too short but all I could afford with Berlin approaching too fast. Now I promise to taper properly until next Sunday.

My theoretical plan is to run 30 km in 3 hours, then somehow get to the finish line. Luckily the route consists of one round, so there is no risk to be lapped. I expect to walk a few final sections.

By the way it will be my 3rd Berlin Marathon, second one being 14 years back in 2005. And my 37th Major marathon while I am still missing the big medal ...

Cross training at wrong time

stats of the week: run 17 km, cycled 316 km, gym 1 h
stats of the previous week: run 53 km, gym 1 h

I know this might not be the classic way to prepare for running a marathon. But it was an urgent wish to test my new bike trailer and learn how it works on longer distances. So we left for a 3-day-trip with light luggage of 11 kg. Together with the trailer the load was around 20 kg. I was happy that I was able to cope with ascents up to 15%. However, after 3 days of tough cycling I felt to be in need of 2 days of recovery and the scheduled long run of 30 km still has to wait. 

The Real Come Back

stats of the week: run 48 km, cycled 39 km, gym 3 h

The Half Marathon at my home town Bochum was a real come back. With an average pace of 5:21 min/km it makes a promising base for future improvements to a forgotten level. I was able to enjoy the race without any serious torment and finished with a smile. Even more, I was lucky to end up 3rd in my age group.

Now I would prefer to work on my pace and run more fast races. However, it happened that I got a number in the Berlin Marathon's lottery. So I have to fit in some last minute long runs to prepare for the classic distance.