Sweet, Sweet Taper...

Ah, bliss....

This week marks something truly delicious to every runner nearing the end of the training season--a taper week. With no group run planned for this weekend (scheduled mileage 14-16 miles), my beloved was in alt over the opportunity to log some long miles.

After sleeping in a bit on Saturday, we gleefully tripped into long sleeves...and shorts! At a balmy 55 degrees, there was no other way to do it. Fuel-belt equipped, we headed through Harvard Square and to the Charles, heading toward Watertown. The fair-weather runners, out in mass, provided endless amusement to us both, and Jared admitted that he had to agree with my somewhat surly response to them ("Where were YOU when it was 15 degrees and sleeting, fair weather runner?!"). Unfortunately when we got to Arsenal St in Watertown, near where many of the DFMC group runs begin and end, and near to where my first Boston apartment was, we couldn't make heads or tails of where to go. The route I'd mapped earlier showed us clearly staying on a road along the river for another two miles out, then another two miles back--the problem being that once we actually arrived at Arsenal Street, there was no more road along the river...

No worries, though--we simply turned around, and planned to tack on an extra bridge or so at the other end to try to add some "makeup mileage." We happily ran along, chatting merrily, and spontaneously shouting "SPPRRRING!" with open arms embracing the warm air and blue skies.

The run went well overall, and tiredness didn't begin to set in until we were nearly at our turning point to head back through Harvard Square--a mile and a half from home. Though we both agreed it had felt like around 14 miles, but definitely not 15, we found when we got home and verified the modified route that it was actually closer to 13 miles.

Ah well. Still a good run, and still with good company. Per the plan, we leashed up Copley, and headed out on our cool-down walk--to the Davis Square Starbucks. Our lovely young lady was admired by many along the way, and was a very good girl--eliciting many happy noises from her owners...or maybe that was the dark roast?