Not training as intensely as I have for the past year is probably the most excruciating thing I have experienced to date. When you train regularly you have a lot of energy! Now it’s taper time as my 1st marathon at Walt Disney World is just a couple weeks away.  And yes, I’m full of energy!!!  It’s time to cut the training down a bit though. It’s all about resting more and waiting. The upside is that all those little aches & pains that come from running a lot of mileage are starting to go away with the increased cross training and lower weekly mileage.

I had a plan of dropping 10 extra pounds before the marathon. I’m half way there! At 185lbs I’m feeling good. Having maintained that weight thru Christmas dinner at mom & dad’s house as well as surviving all the treats my GF makes thru the holidays I am even more excited to still be on track!

This week I only have one 45 minute run though I’m hitting the elliptical three other days for a good calorie burn and non-impact cross training. I’ll do a 7 miler on Sunday at slightly slower than race pace.

The week before I head South to see Mickey, I will have a couple 30 minute easy runs and then it’s time to wait the last few days until January 9th and my first 26.2 mile magical adventure! In the mean time I’m prepping with a Gear Checklist!

The Gear List:

• Running Shoes & Socks!
• Waiver and Bib Document for the Disney Marathon
• Cold Gear tights
• Cold Gear shirt
• Running Shorts
• WDW Radio Running Team Shirt
• Knee brace (better safe…)
• Running belt for GU
• Body Glide
• NSAIDs (for a few hours after)
• GU (Carrying 8 to cover 5 hours)
• EAS protein (for immediately after the race)

Optional Gear to Prepare for potential Weather during the Race

• Sun Screen
• Flippers
• Snow Shoes
• Snorkel & Mask
• Parka
• Snake Bite Kit
• Scarf
• Boogie Board
• Skis
• Poncho
• Ice Melt
• Umbrella Hat
• Life Preserver

Whatever you’re training for have fun and I’ll be writing about my 26.2 mile magical adventure soon enough!

Happy Training!