The worst of the marathon training is behind me now. Saturday marked my last why-on-earth-am-I-doing-this loooooonnnnngggg run. 21 miles.Nearly four hours on my feet. In the drizzle. It wasn't fun, but it's done.

And, now I've entered the best phase of marathon training - the taper -- where I run less and less and less until marathon day.

I thought I'd hate this. It's very hard for a runner not to run -- it's like telling me not to breathe. But, in the past few months, with all my 50-mile weeks, I've gained a new respect for rest and I've seen the results (it's all good) that come from giving your body a day off.

So, I'll taper and I'll rest. And, come May 20, I'll see if all this training and resting pays off and earns me a ticket to Boston.