TAPER and Half Marathon Pace

This week is week 12 of my training plan!  The last week before my 2nd Half Marathon.

WEEK 11
Mon: Rest: Rest
Tue: 3 miles easy: 4 miles with incline
Wed: 5 miles: 5 miles
Thur: Speedwork 10x400m: 10x400m (in the sauna!): 5 miles total.
Fri: 3 miles pace: 3 miles pace
Sat: Rest: Rest
Sun: 12 miles: 12  cold rainy miles.
total: 29 miles

WEEK 12: TAPER
Mon: 4 miles recovery run
Tue: 3 easy miles
Wed: Dentist
Thu: 3 miles
Fri: REST
Sat: REST
Sun: OC HALF MARATHON!

Taper: I don't like taper.  I worry that my legs will forget what they can do, I know it is crazy.  2 days in a row of rest...I don't like that.  Do you run the day before a race?

This morning I went for my 4 miles.  I ran it at faster pace then I did my 12 miles yesterday.
I thought I would be really sore after my 12 miles but it was not as bad as I thought, ice baths hurt but for me they work.  My quads felt stiff that was my main issue.
During this run I was thinking about pace for my half marathon.
I know I should not go out too fast but I also know I can do better then last time as far as pace goes.  Yesterday I went slow, that is what Hal Higdon says to do for the long run and I wanted to do the distance and not get injured.  Today I was faster with tired legs and it got me wondering how do I really know what pace I can do for a half marathon without hitting the wall?  I know with experience I will get better at this but for now I have 1 half marathon experience filled with almost all the beginner's mistakes one can do.  
I know not to over dressed that it is OK to be a bit cold at the starting line. 
I know that I have to drink BEFORE getting thirsty.
I know what fuel I can take and how much (not a lot).
I know I need to take salt before and during the race.
I know not to start a half marathon like it was a 5k race and to go slower.
But I don't  know what is the fastest pace I can really keep for 13.1 miles.
If I go too fast and I crash that is not good.
If I go too slow and I can do better that is not great either.

I bought compression socks and I was hoping to try them for my last long run to see if this would be good for me to help prevent getting swollen feet (I had that pretty bad for my first half) but they arrived today. 

This week I need get more rest, the night before the race we will stay at a hotel in Newport and I know I will not get a good night sleep...kids in same room: enough said. 
Start is at 6 am and this week I will get my shuttle time;  somewhere between 4 am and 5:30 am.  So I need to move the bedtime earlier, increase water intake and try to eat more carbs later this week.  First 2 easy to do, last one not so much.