April 17th Preview

Most of you drop down in distance by almost half this Sunday – except the several who run either the 18-mile trail race on Saturday or the Corvallis Half-Marathon on Sunday. If you’re running with us and think the distance isn’t long enough, feel free to join the marathoners on their 10-mile run.

Your six-mile route (from Eugene Running Company at 8:00) avoids serious conflicts with the Run for Autism being held that morning at Alton Baker Park. Our run: Oakway and Coburg Roads to Ferry Street Bridge and don’t cross. Turn left onto bike path, to Autzen footbridge and across. Turn right, to Ferry Street Bridge. Turn AROUND there and come back the same way: Autzen, Ferry and store. GPS distance is 6.11 miles. (Marathoners continue past Valley River footbridge to “0.5” milepost before turning back.)

Bring a drink for delivery at halfway point (Ferry). Weather forecast: sunny with starting temperature in low 50s (with day's high reaching 80s).

WEEK 8 LESSON: YOUR TAPER

Question: How much should I run the last week before the race?

Answer: Run as little as your conscience will allow. It’s too late now, with the half-marathon just days away, to do anything that will make the race go better. But it’s never too late to make a mistake – most commonly running too far or too fast – that will come back to bite you on race day. Take at least as many rest days as you would before a weekly training run. Take nothing longer than you would on a normal week’s easy run, and ideally shorter. You won’t forget how to run this week, and you’ll race better the more rested you are.