Tis the Season

...not that season (well that season too)...but marathon season...at least the training season for the upcoming marathon here in Houston...

It's at that point in the Houston Marathon training season where the long runs are getting up there (18 miles or so I guess by now; I'm off due to my own wacky training schedule).

We have recently been sent a couple of emails from Coach about the long runs and the holidays...and that while yes, "you go up each week for 3 weeks, then down a week, its ok to drop down a week if you must", and then adding on about how to work this in with holiday schedules etc.

This year, at least for me, since I am doing another marathon before Houston, my long run on Thanksgiving weekend is short.  10 miles.  And if I happen to race on Thanksgiving, I might sleep in and just run on my own doing a even shorter than 10 miles.  We'll see.  A lot of that scenario rests solely on what the weather forecast for Thanksgiving ends up being.  :O)

However, this year Christmas falls on a Sunday.  Last year, with it being a Saturday, Coach took a poll and everyone had that Friday off, so the long run was moved to Friday by majority vote.  Since I had dropped to the half, it didn't matter one way or another to me.  I actually went back to look and see what I had done myself, but all I see is this  and this so far...So other than that I have no recollection of if I ran on Friday or Saturday!  I think I was off work on Friday...so I must have, just didn't blog about it  :O) 

Anyway its always a 'situation' that seems to get addressed every year during marathon training season; at least the past few years.

I know the Houston Fit'ers always do their last long run the weekend prior, making it a 4 week taper, but KW doesn't roll that way.  I mean, if you want to, you can and I wonder...how many people will do exactly that after receiving last nights email.

Apparently a lot of emails were being sent inquiring about the KW holiday running schedule, specifically the weekend of Christmas with Christmas Eve falling on long run day...I actually was curious, but not enough to send an email.  I figured they might have it on Friday again...or just have it on Saturday as normal.  I am taking a week off around that weekend, so I have that Friday off anyway...again when we ended up doing it didn't matter in the least.

So the email comes out letting us know this:  The last long run for Houston will indeed be held on Christmas Eve.  And frankly I am happy about that! 

I am sure there are a lot of people who aren't.  Additionally we will have our long run on New Years Eve as well.   Not that that one is probably much of an issue as Christmas Eve would be for folks.  A lot of people travel out of town for Christmas.  Or in the case of this year, just have a lot of last minute things to do!  With Christmas Eve on a Saturday I can only imagine the chaos for so many, especially those in retail.  So glad I am taking the whole month off from #2!!!

The holidays this year...well let's just say they aren't going to be all that spectacular for our family.  Yes we will get together, but I know that it won't be the same and I won't have the guilt, evil eye, or threat of the wrath of Momma to make certain I am going to be in all the places I need to be when I need to be. 

I sure wish I did have all of that.  While I hated it every year, wanting to be able to just be loosey-goosey on my own...now I know its just going to be a sad, tough 6 weeks until I can get through the new year.

Anyway, now I actually can put my recovery miles in post-DWR and how to incorporate that with another 20 miler three weeks out from Houston. 

If you know me at all, you know I have already completed this task  :O)

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I cannot wait until this nonsense I have gotten myself into is over.  :O) 

I will never ever again do back to back to back.  Well at least not with so much time in between.  To be honest I wouldn't scoff at doing 3 again in a row, but having them spaced out no more than 3-4 weeks. 

This 6 or 8 weeks in between is for the birds I tell ya!

Have a marathon or half coming up?  How are you planning on working in the long runs around the holidays this year?