Heading into the final week... taper time.

First and foremost, a special thanks to those who have donated in the past week:

- Steve Thomas
- Bob and Amy Martin
- The Genger Family
- The Duncan Family

Thanks to these efforts alongside those that have previously given, we have no surpassed $4,000 raised for a phenomenal charity, the Fisher House Foundation.

This past week has been hard for me, not so much in running, but in NOT running... it's taper time.  For those who don't know, "tapering" is a process in running in which a runner will decrease their mileage and efforts in the time preceding a big race.  For me, I have begun tapering 3 weeks out of the race (starting in Hawaii) to rest up for the Western States Endurance Run.  What this means, basically, is shorter runs, less days spent running, and more rest.  Erin and Jackson love this, because I have been home more, and for that same reason, it is really nice.

Tapering for me, however, is terrible.  I need running and exercise, or else I don't get out all of my energy throughout the day.   Without running, I feel anxious, and have trouble sleeping (in addition to anxiety and excitement about the race itself).  But a long distance race like this one is not worth running if you are not rested, so of course, this is all necessary.

Still, I have been lowering the quantity, but maintaining, or even improving, the quality of the mileage I have been doing over weeks past.  Here's the breakdown from last week:

- Monday - rest (red-eye flight from Hawaii)
- Tuesday - 2:31 - Ester Dome hills
- Wednesday - rest
- Thursday - 2:32 - Ester Dome hills
- Friday - rest
- Saturday - 5k race (pushing Jackson and stroller) + 2:25 Ester Dome Hills

Starting the 2,000 foot descent back down Ester Dome last Saturday

Final time for the week = 7 hours, 52 minutes, which at a 9 minute mile (a conservative estimate) is about 52-53 miles for the week... not too shabby for 3 days!

We are nearly set to start traveling down to California tomorrow, and so checking, re-checking, and packing have been the name of the game here.  There has been some last minute "I forgots" that have necessitated orders that will be delivered directly to the hotel, so fingers-crossed they get there in time.

Bags are (almost) packed, reservations for hotels and rental cars are double-checked, and we leave tomorrow...  starting to seriously get psyched.

PLEASE DONATE TO THE FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION!