RDL: last minute training, and tapering...

RioDel Lago is coming next week, my 100-miler for the year, in replacement of the DNH (Did Not Happened) of Western States in June. Only three months have passed, a short period, but a significant one in terms of impact on training and preparation. Between the August injury, the DNF at the French Nationals, 3 round-trips to France over the summer and some worries at work, last June's running spirit has faltered.

The good news is that the speed is still here. On Saturday, I ran at Rancho San Antonio where Max' cross-country team was gathering for practice (6:45 am). While Agnès was doing her own loop, Nordic walking, I went off on PG&E and ran the 9.3-mile loop in 1:05:44, 22 seconds shy of my personal best on this course.

This Sunday, I did not know if I should do a last long run, or take it easy and start tapering seriously. Instead of going up to Black Mountain I headed up to Rancho again (5.3 miles from my house) and got on PG&E at a slower pace than Saturday. Going down on Rogue, I had decided in my mind that I won't go for another PG&E loop, but run Wildcat Canyon after refilling my bottle at the farm. My Garmin 205 was showing 13 miles. I then caught-up with a group of 5 fast runners who happened to be from the famous Aggies Running Club (sorry, Brooks, an Asics-sponsored running club...). There were Jeff, Chris, Nick, Doug and a 5th runner.
This is exactly what I was missing to taper... some speed and push in the uphills! After sprinting up Upper Wildcat, we went down Rogue, then up again on Chamise first then on Wildcat Loop (switchbacks), then down on Hig Meadow, then up on Coyote and down to the tennis courts where I left the group after sharing 9 fast miles (it was now mile 22 for me, and I had 5.6 miles left to come back home).

So, that's it for the tune-up, now is time for the real tapering for the rest of the week, until Saturday morning, 6am at Cavitt School. I promise, there will be pictures in the next post, thanks to Agnès coverage of the event. Have a good week!