• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W18D4 (Taper week 3)
• Today’s session: Day 1 of 2 pre-race rest days
• Comments: Rest, review strategy & stuff for Big Sur, and head home!!

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W18D3 (Taper week 3)
• Today’s session: 3 mile easy run
• Comments: I did 3.49 @ 8:19

A week ago, I posted about my experiment with arm warmers…at that time, an old pair of tube socks. I think I have settled on a combo for Big Sur this weekend:

It’s a pair of Road Runner Sports R-Gear Smart Sleeves and a pair of the cheapo, cotton gloves they sell at the expo. Both are easily removeable mid-run, with the arm warmers able to be stashed in my waistband and the gloves tossed in an aid station trash.

I tried the combo at home, but it’s been warm, so I wasn’t sure how it would work in cold conditions. I’m in VA this week and it’s been cold on my morning runs (high 40s.) The combo tested out great, so it’s a keeper!

Training Journal – 4/23/13:

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W18D2 (Taper week 3)
• Today’s session: 4 mile easy run
• Comments: I did 4.41 @ 8:26

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W17D7 (Taper week 2)
• Today’s session: Rest
• Comments: Rest
• Weekly mileage: Running: 36.95 / Bicycling: 0

Did my final “long run” today before next weekend’s Big Sur Marathon. After 17 weeks of training, it seems weird to call eight miles my long run, but tapering works…at least that what I tell myself. I had planned to do my eight on the road, but it was hard to pass up the draw of “tracks” like the one above and great weather too.

Today was also my second run in my Hoka One One Stinson EVOs. It went much better than last week. I have no hip discomfort at all (kinda know how they ride now) and my feet didn’t bug me (laced ’em looser.) Overall assessment: me likey!

One week to go!

Training Journal – 4/20/13:

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W17D6 (Taper week 2)
• Today’s session: 8 mile easy run
• Comments: I did 8.37 up in Alum Rock Park (it was probably closer to 9, but my GPS always seems to go haywire at two dead spots in ARP)
  

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W17D5 (Taper week 2)
• Today’s session: 6 mile easy run @ 8:27-9:28 pace
• Comments: I did 6.57 @ 8:26

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W17D4 (Taper week 2)
• Today’s session: 4 mile easy run @ 8:27-9:28 pace
• Comments: I did 4.54 @ 8:29

With Big Sur coming and it most likely being cold and windy along the coast, I’ve been considering on my options to stay warm.  I thought about wearing a long-sleeve shirt, but don’t want to get too warm.  Arm warmers seem like a good possibility – one that i’ve seen others use.  They can be removed when I get warm and stashed in my waistband.

So, last night, I made a test pair out of an old pair of tube socks and wore them one this morning’s run.  I really liked them and they seem like a great option.  A few discoveries:

• arm warmers – gloves ≠ warm runner … at least not this morning.  It was about 45 degrees with a 12mph wind this morning and my hands were CCCOLD!  I think I will wear my light gloves tomorrow to test further…
• I’ll buy a pair of arm warmers rather than wearing my tube sock versions.  My homemade ones frayed pretty bad and probably don’t wick well…

Do you wear arm warmers?  What is your take on them?

Training Journal – 4/16/13:

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W17D2 (Taper week 2)
• Today’s session: 4 mile easy run @ 8:27-9:28 pace
• Comments: I did 4.56 @ 8:28