With starting another taper week just two weeks after I started my first one, feels a little bit like deja vu. This race I may actually end up running though. Becky had already planned on running the Rockford Half Marathon coming up on May 20. And now I am too.

This is a great race. And not just because it’s where I nailed my current PR last year. It’s a great mix of city streets, neighborhoods, park paths, river views, free close parking, race day packet pickup, and a great downhill bridge finish with lots of food and giveaways.

When my father-in-law passed away on Wednesday, May 2, I knew immediately that I wouldn’t be running the Great Western Half Marathon on May 6. Our family needed the time to celebrate his life and grieve. Getting a combined 20 hours of sleep over 5 nights wouldn’t have been the safest way to race either.

Knowing that the Great Western was capped at 1,200 participants, and knowing I wouldn’t be one of them, I actually drove over to the onsite packet pickup on the morning of the race. I picked up my tshirt (really nice one, by the way), returned my chip, and asked if they’d be able to give my bib and chip to a late registrant. I didn’t want to waste a slot in a capped race. Turns out it’s so much more of a hassle for them to switch people at the last minute that they simply don’t allow it at all. I checked the results later and only 838 runners out of 1,200 participated. Knowing that, I didn’t feel as bad being a DNS (Did Not Start).

May 6 turned out to be a beautiful day for racing, however. And I thought about the runners all morning. When we joined up with my sister’s family at their hotel so our kids could swim in the pool, we spotted one of the runners in the elevator and probably scared the hell out of her with all my congratulations and questions.

In the last week, I have managed to get in some miles again. And speedy ones at that. I was definitely going a little bonkers mentally and emotionally first because it was a taper week, and then because of the funeral and family, and then trying to get back into a rhythm at work. So it’s been good to just hit the pavement and burn off some frustration this past week with some fast miles…

Week 13 Half Marathon Training Recap
Monday: 5 miles at 8:30 min/mile pace
Tuesday: 7 miles at 7:34 min/mile pace
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 5 miles at 8:00 min/mile pace
Saturday: 12 miles at 7:40 min/mile pace 
Sunday: Rest
Total: 29 miles