1st official taper day. I ran. Fast. But, only 5.5 miles.
I’m starting that stupid thing I do where I look at everyone else’s training and decide I haven’t done enough. This is all part of my taper madness. You’ve got Marathon Maiden spitting out 80 mile weeks. Aron is over there doing almost 60 mile weeks at only week 7.
I topped out at 50 miles per week. One time. It’s a comparison fest over here and it’s not pretty. Why do we insist on comparing ourselves to others? it just makes us feel like crap. And it’s not just about running. It’s about jobs and kids and houses and cars and Halloween costumes for god’s sake. This is probably why I give out the full size candy bars. To be the best for once. Did you know that men who give out full size candy bars are compensating for something? I just made that up, but I think it’s true.
Here’s what I tell myself about comparing {source}.
1. Just realize that you can’t win.
Just consciously realizing this can be helpful. No matter what you do you can pretty much always find someone else in the world that has more than you or are better than you at something. Yes, you may feel good for a while when you get a nicer car than your neighbor. But a week or two later you’ll see someone from the next block with an even finer car than yours.
2. Compare yourself to yourself.
Instead of comparing yourself to other people create the habit of comparing yourself to yourself. See how much you have grown, what you have achieved and what progress you have made towards your goals.
This habit has the benefit of creating gratitude, appreciation and kindness towards yourself as you observe how far you have come, the obstacles you have overcome and the good stuff you have done. You feel good about yourself without having to think less of other people.
Good advice, huh? I love #2 especially.
To cope with tapering and comparing, I’m making the best brownies in the world for the second time this week. Featured in the October ‘10 issue of Cooking Light, these babies are to die for. The tip is adding extra chopped dark chocolate (I added at least 2 oz extra, chopped not melted). Cooking Light did not advocate for that, but I DID. Also, don’t overcook! I plan on eating many of these and probably hiding them from my kids. Because I made them and they should only be mine and my period started today mid-run and the dog will not stop licking himself. Plus, I have five pounds to make up.
Click on the picture for the recipe and join the “tapering with brownies” club. All the cool kids are doing it.
This weekend was a blur of running, taxiing kids around, and trying to pretend I know how to make in iPod Touch costume (my daughter’s choice). Good news is she only fell over in it once. I had already cut out the arms out of the box, but for some reason she didn’t use her hands to catch herself and just fell flat. Then she couldn't get out of the box. I wanted so badly to make sure she was okay before laughing hysterically, but it was not easy. I wish you could have heard her hit the ground. And yes, she was fine. In other good news, if I’m going to be a taxi driver at least I’m not this guy (and it’s for real):
Don’t kill the messenger. I just find these things and post them. I don’t make them up.
After my 18 miler on Saturday, we headed to Denver at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday for the Race for the Cure. You may remember that I was running with my friend Kathy who was doing her first race EVER! I wanted to get her a little gift for the race, so I had a charm engraved for her with the race date and name on it. Problem was, it came in the mail and was so small, I was almost embarrassed to give it to her. Actual size:
I’m not kidding. So little it’s almost a joke. If you order through Inspired Endurance, check charm dimensions first (1/4” x 3/8”).
My family spent a lot of time harassing me about the gift. “Oh, maybe she can give it to her Barbie or Polly Pocket to wear,” etc. They are so funny. Well, Kathy loved it and even cried a bit when I gave it to her. Of course she probably cried because it was so small, but whatever.
At the start (freaking cold). I always have to stand with my friend, Porta Potty. I am also embracing my homeless look with the blanket from our couch at home:
The socks:
Getting ready to head out (like my new arm warmers?):
Finish line (I’m not sure what that guy is doing beside Kathy, but if he was throwing up, I’m glad I was looking straight ahead):
Kathy did really well. She ran the 5K in 32 minutes!! My first trainee didn’t die!
One last tidbit since this post is already a vomitorium of weird stuff like brownies and Kok and tatas socks.
Have you ever heard of earndit.com? It’s actually pretty cool. You register your Garmin (or any type of device). Every time you run, bike or whatever you get points. Once you reach a certain number of points, you get free stuff. You don’t have to go to the website every time you run. Anytime you load a workout through Garmin Connect (which I do anyway) and give it a name, it gives you credit on the site. I mean, free stuff for something I do anyway. I’ll take it. Rewards include gift cards, Element Bars and lots of other good stuff. I’m almost up to 300 points and it’s only been a week.
And remember:
“Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of other people” -Nido Qubein
I’m a winner, dammit.
