Taper? What Taper?

My wife Alison says she has forgotten how to taper. We spend our lives training for events -- marathons, triathlons, ultras (that's her, not me) -- and in between training, we're at jobs, practicing yoga, playing hockey, rock climbing, hiking mountains with our dogs... The point here is we keep busy.

Then you hit us with a week like this. In 4 days, we run the Vermont City Marathon (Ali's 15th marathon, my 13th). And anyone who's ever run a marathon will tell you not to overdo it the week -- probably even two weeks -- prior to Race Day. Only that has been a problem. What are you supposed to do? Sit around all day?

I think Alison figured it out today; instead of running her usual 8 miles, she did 4. Good thinking. And instead of a run, bike, swim, or some combination of the above, last night we found a rocky crag in Bolton and climbed a few pitches. Nice and relaxing.

We're looking forward to a great race, but we can't wait for it to be over. We want life to get back to normal.

Thirteen Year Anniversary

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, and I warn everyone: be careful. Tomorrow's holiday marks the 13-year anniversary... of the worst hangover of my life.

I'll spare you the details of the the cab ride home (I made the wise decision not to drive... even though my mode of transportation that night was a bicycle) or the morning after. For Cinco neophytes (and for non-Spanish speakers), I will pass along a translation so that you will better understand this very important holiday. As the guys on WOKO's Morning Roundup reported this morning, "Cinco" means "five" and "de Mayo" means "shots of tequila."

So be careful out there tomorrow! And happy Cinco de Mayo!