I am thrilled that I will be running the New Orleans Rock ‘N’ Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in just 13 days. Given that the big race is so soon, I have already begun my “taper,” which is a fancy word for dialing back your training. The taper is a critical time. After logging dozens and dozens of miles, hill workouts, speed sessions, and hours dialing in shoes, apparel, and nutrition … the taper can actually be pretty hard.

In other words, the hardest part is taking it easy. Have you ever heard the expression “hurry up and wait?” Who hasn’t … but to the distance athlete this is a MUST-DO element of training, to ensure that you show up injury-free and as fresh as possible. I must say, though, that it gets into you head. It is hard not to worry that you might be losing some of that fitness you have worked so hard for when you are “actively” resting in these final two weeks. I will run a little, hit the gym a couple of times for core workouts, and maybe swim. However, the volume and frequency will be far less than my body and mind have been used to since the fall.

This comes on the heels of Moira Branigan finishing her cancer treatment, which I recently blogged about as well. She was so actively involved in the daily business of fighting cancer that once it was over, it left us with a sense of unease. The taper is that same sort of unease. I think mostly it comes from the fact that you know you now have to race with whatever fitness you have built up until now. No more putting off a long run or speed session for later … that is it, man. You have to dance with the date that brought you.

My goal is to finish the race in (well) under two hours, but I don’t want to obsess over that. After all, there is no gold medal on the line (I’ll get a medal for finishing whether I come in 12th or 1,200th, after all). There is no prize money for the rank and file, either. I have never been to New Orleans and during my last long training run this weekend it occurred to me that no matter what my time ends up being … I get to go run through one of the world’s most interesting cities, seeing places and making new friends that I would never have seen or met. I won’t walk the thing (I want to RUN!), but I want to be 100 percent sure that I enjoy the ride and reap the fruits of these months of training. After all, I could never have imagined that I would race a half marathon when I was so heavy just last summer.

So, I never thought I would say this … but I’ll do my best to do nothing this week, and I’ll be back in touch with you all shortly with pictures and stories from the road down in the Big Easy. Thanks again for all of my supporters who made my campaign to raise money for the Wellness Community so successful, I wouldn’t be here without your kind support.

See more stories from the road at my blog Average Guy Hits the Road