Artichoke's Running Blog (Ken Spence)

Saturday morning run.  6:30 a.m.  Met Gina at 6 mile point at around 7:30 a.m.  Ran down the hills through Erda and to Stansbury.  Easy 16 mile run for me.  A very good and solid 10 miler for her.  Marathon is 2 weeks out and this is the first time I've cut back at that point before a marathon.  Old thinking from the 80's was running your last 20 mile long run 2 weeks before the marathon.  That's what I've done for years, but this year I'm doing 3 weeks out for my last 20 miler, which was last week, so I cut it back to 16 this week and beginning the taper.  I got in two 19 milers and two 20 milers, so I should be good.  The taper should be no problem, especially since we'll be in Argentina for 10 days and I don't have any idea how the running will go down there.  I'll just take what I can get.  We get back Thursday afternoon, October 1st, and then leave for St. George the next morning.  The hard work is done, my back has survived and I'm looking forward to the marathon even though it will be slow compared to the last 4 years.  I'm just looking for enjoying SGM #17.