Ahh - Taper time - eagerly awaited and ephemeral

Hey - must be some sort of record - getting in 2 posts in a day - that's what happens when you wake up at 3 am and can't go back to sleep :-)

So after all those weeks of training, it's been taper time for the past couple of weeks. Got the 22 miler in at Dish with Chakri and gang and a 13 miler on April 12th at Rancho followed by a 6 miler this past weekend at Shoreline (just before the first Team ASHA 2008 session). I am glad to report that I have signed up for Team ASHA 2008 and plan to run a marathon in October (still deciding between Portland and Chicago - sorry Silicon Valley Marathon - no hard feelings :-)).

Hope to get a few short runs in and also as much rest as possible. That's the challenge with taper - while we want to stay rested and overcome niggles and aches/pains, one does not want to rest too much (and then be hit with the 26.2 on race day). Have also been trying to load up on carbs - again a fine balance between Carbo-loading and Overloading :-) Have to constantly remind myself that every pound gained will mean another pound that needs to be dragged across the finish line on Sunday :-)

Anyways, there are over 20 runners from the Team ASHA gang running various distances at Big Sur on April 27th. We plan to drive over there on Saturday afternoon to get to the expo and pick up our bibs etc. We will be staying at Monterey and have to take the shuttle (at 3:45 am no less!!) on Sunday morning to the start at Big Sur.

I think I have trained as best I can within the constraints (2 kids, work etc. - am glad to report that the wife has not left me or kicked me out :-) - am really lucky to have such an understanding spouse (or maybe she is giving me enough rope to hang myself :-)

No major goals at Big Sur - I mean, it's not a course to go for a PR. Given that this is my first Big Sur, and listening to veterans (and tons of reading on the net), the plan is to be conservative over the first half and have something left for the tough rolling hills at the end!

Wish us all luck - I am sure we all need it - will post a race report next week!