Tapering tandrums

This time next week I'll be on the 2nd and final day of my 125km ultra, hopefully.  I'm so glad I had the long weekend of training last weekend as it allowed my tapering to start but as anyone knows who has tapered before a race, strange things can happen during this period.
To set the scene it wasn't a normal week.  4 days and 3 nights in London meant no gym work, other than working out every day in my room, and a couple of runs.  I love running round London very early in the morning so that you see the sunrise over the iconic buildings while running beside the Thames.  I have stopped taking my phone with me as I'd be stopping at every other corner to take a picture.  I'm happy that the "pictures and memories" are inside my head and that I'm out to run, not see the sights!
But London is flat so my second run was out from Trafalgar Square to Regents Park and then to Primrose Hill.  The only hill in London, no kidding.  It doesn't look much and I ran up it a few times but this wasn't meant to be a hill rep day for me.  I marveled at the runners who were on hill reps and it certainly looked a tough work out.  I enjoyed all the parks and got back to my apartment feeling amazing having had the best start to my day possible.  I was primed and ready for my 8.30 breakfast meeting!
The downside of London which I won't forget again, is walking in business shoes causes me problems - I should have walked in my running shoes.  When I got home my foot started to play up and yesterdays run was cut very short due to pains in my hammy.  My hammy has been tight for over a week but I have my "medical team" lined up for next week to prepare me for my race.  Fingers crossed as 125km will put a strain on the hammy.
This is typical for pre-race week, tapering always causes niggles to appear so I am not going to over think it.  Plenty of rest, stretching, hydration and feeding for the next week.  My friends Kristine & Mike from Canada will be racing with me and one of the best aspects of ultra's is the people you meet along the way who become lifetime friends.  Ultra runners are definitely very special people who run in very cool places (some of them also hot!).  Enjoy your bank holiday weekend.