Thanks to Daylight Savings, my early morning runs begin in complete darkness. Luckily, my neighbor (Maximus, his blog alias) has been running weekdays with me. It’s really nice having a “bodyguard” so to speak. Without him, I would be running a well lit section of trail – a span of about 2 miles – back and forth until the sun came up and I could enter the “woods”.
I call it the “woods” although it’s anything but. Essentially the paved trail moves into a tree lined section. I never enter the “woods” without complete daylight. It’s scary when it’s dark. Even running with Maximus we are both on high alert. Like yesterday when I ran behind Maximus and over to the other side of the trail because I mistook a trash can as a person crouching down and ready to attack (told you it was dark)! I really need to lay off the I Survived the night before a run (sidenote: does anyone watch that show? It’s great!).
Anyways, this week is my last big push mileage-wise before Boston. Most people running Boston are doing their 22-miler this weekend. I’m running 15 this weekend and then 22 next weekend. I do a 3-week taper in terms of mileage but a 2-week taper in terms of my long run. It’s different but it works well for me.
Boston Week 11 Recap
MON: 8 easy
TUE: 10 tempo: 4 faster than MP and 3 at HMP (plus WU and CD miles) + barre class –> I definitely took the bus to crazy town this day. I was exhausted at the end of barre and my legs felt like jello. Never again!
WED: rest!
THU: 7 speed –> and a sub-7:00 min/mi appearance!
FRI: rest
SAT: 20 18 miles –> tough run; my legs were trashed!
SUN: 8 easy
51 miles for the week!
Ever run in the dark and think things like stop signs are out to get you? Or is that just me? We also see bikers with headlights riding 2 across and it looks like a car on the trail coming at us <– that is scary!
Anyone running Boston doing a 2-week taper? Anyone a fan of the 2-week taper?
Boston Week 11 Recap
Even in the daylight, I get suspicious of others when I’m running on a trail, so I’m with you! The bike lights would freak me out too 🙂
I like your idea of a 3 week mileage taper and 2 week long run taper – it makes a lot of sense….might try that next time!
Running in the dark around here is terrifying! I avoid doing it at all costs because it’s not just dark, it’s PITCH BLACK and no one is near by to hear your screams. 🙂
Boston is getting so close!
Oh yes, I’ve had those moments! Kind of scary. At the same time I don’t like them to get the best of me because I also find that in the dark is the most peaceful time to run.
I joined a gym for my winter training, when it’s too dark both before and after work to run outside alone on my favorite trails — because I hate running in darkness by myself. Even with a head lamp. Good thing the days have been getting longer as my runs get longer too, so I’ve been able to transition off the treadmill and out of doors. Daylight savings doesn’t start for us in Germany until this coming weekend, so we’ll see how I’m feeling about this next week. 🙂
I freak out and won’t run in the dark by myself either! I always picture these crazy scenarios.
I have a trail that I do most my runs on and it took getting used to when it came to running in the dark. I had no choice last summer as I was training for a night marathon and needed to get used to running at night.
I am doing the same type of taper. I will run 20+ 2 weeks before because of the Monday race. Sooooo excited!
My taper this time has been a little messed up but I’m usually a fan of the two week “long run taper.” I usually do 20 two weeks out and 13 the week before. I like the extra confidence it gives me.
Glad to hear you have an early morning bodyguard!
Thank goodness for your bodyguard. Does he travel? Would he pimp himself out to come to New Orleans? He would have to share a bed with a 3yo but whatever. Take one for the team, Maximus!
Oooh, I am glad you have a bodyguard!!! That sounds creepy. And YES, I caught part of “I Survived”! Some creepy stuff! Related: other things you should not watch before running in pitch black include a marathon of Law&Order SVU’s scariest episodes (this was back in the fall and in honor of Halloween– I almost peed my pants out of fear during my long run in the dark the next morning!)
I am sooooo excited for you for Boston!!
In the winter it is dark when I run in Central Park and usually i don’t mind (maybe I should?) However a few times I have felt spooked and ended up just doing little out and backs and couldnt wait to get out. I am not sure if something was actually wrong and I sensed it or just me being weird!
I think I might be scared to do a two week taper! Although I admit your concept of a 3 week taper with regard to mileage and a 2 week with regard to long runs is an interesting one and one I hadn’t heard! I could possibly see myself doing something like that. I’d be interested in knowing how you finally settled on that as what works for you. Just trial and error?
Pretty much anything in the dark is a killer coming to destroy me. It’s terrifying. I would love a body guard.
I’ve done the two week taper this winter and liked it! Three weeks gives you too much time to flip out. Nice job on all those speedy miles!!
Most of my runs during the week are at night and though it’s through housing developments, I too get spooked, though sometimes I’m more afraid of the supernatural than the real threats. Like cold spots, or monsters oozing out of the sewer drains. Maybe I should cut out sic-fi or shows like Alcatraz late at night too. 🙂
Running in the dark freaks me out. I’ve run on trail at a state park when the sun was coming up, & I made myself crazy. We have a treadmill in our basement, & I’m trying to motivate myself for the indoor workouts. (Caveat – I’m running like 1/4 of the mileage you are on your easiest days :-))
Glad you’re being safe with a running buddy! And, I watch Criminal Minds, which freaks ME OUT when my husband travels.
I like 2-week tapers too. I did my first ones with the McMillan plans I bought for my last two marathons (Top of Utah and Houston) and I was skeptical, but I found I felt much fresher on race day.
i get more freaked out running in morning darkness than evening. so good that you have company!
Which “woods” are you talking about? The Schuylkill trail?
I’ll happily run on the trails (with a friend) in the dark, but I won’t go anywhere near Forbidden Drive before the sun comes up. Not sure why I draw that distinction.
Two week taper, baby. That way I get to the finish line and I’m still SANE! 🙂
Yeah! Running in the dark is so not cool. ESP here in Philly.
I see girls running along Kelly drive alone, after 9pm wearing headphones.
It totally freaks me out and I would never do it.
I’d be afraid of the “woods,” too! I never run on my usual running path in the dark, because it’s slightly sketchy (homeless people, etc). I just run on the streets if it’s dark — hate having to stop at lights, but better safe than sorry! (Central Park with friends at night is fine though).
Two week taper over here…I think…I’d have to ask the RC to be sure.
I used to do all my runs solo until joining a running group and I haven’t done an early morning run in the dark in so long. I also used to do my shorter runs with a girlfriend of mine at 4:30AM because she’s a teacher and needed to be back home by 5:30. So, I’d meet her midway from our houses. Unfortunately, I had to run this hilly bridge that is dark and creepy. I hated it… But at least coming back, the sunlight was out and there were more cars on the roads. I was always scared someone would come out at me and grab me.
I am glad you’ve got a bodyguard. Now that I have my girlfriends, Pedro doesn’t ever want me running alone. Even if it’s like daylight. Seriously? Weirdo.
i still can’t believe that Boston is so close. CRAZINESSSSSS!!!
I used to run with people, but since moving to a new town I haven’t found anyone to run with. I miss it and actually thought about it tonight, how great it is to run with people and chat along the way. It makes the time go by faster.
I like your idea of a three week high mileage and two week taper-takes the anxiety out of waiting.
Great running week!! I like your neighbor’s alias. You are not alone- At dusk or a little darker I often freak myself out by “seeing” things that aren’t there when running by myself. Somehow a bench looks like a deer, I think I saw a person lurking in the shadows, etc. I drive myself nuts.
nice running, lady! I actually like when it’s a little dark out in the morning and the sun rises during my run. It’s so pretty 🙂 central park is pretty well-lit, but once I did get really scared by a cyclist that seemed to have crept up behind me. I think I screamed..
It’s ironic you posted about running in the dark this week! A few days ago, I was running along the Schuylkill circa 5:30 AM (dark) when I noticed some “inappropriate behavior” going on by some “campers” on one of the park benches. Freaked me out. I actually wrote an email to Parks & Rec seeing if it was at all possible to get some sort of patrol on the trail during this time of day. Haven’t heard anything back, not really surprised. =/ But I think what’s most important is for us women to listen to our instincts and if something doesn’t seem right, change the running route or head to the treadmill – better safe than sorry.
Nice job with the training. I often run in the dark. Probably not the smartest, because I often run alone, but I am on very high alert (no music) and I think I actually run a little faster because of being slightly scared in the darker areas!