Let’s talk taper. As I mentioned in my intro post, I am in the thick of my taper before toeing the 26.2 line for the 13th time at the Wisconsin Marathon.
Most runners scale back their running for the 2-4 weeks prior to their goal marathon. This is critical to ensuring that we are rested and in peak form on race day. There is some consensus on how it should be done, but it always leaves us runners thinking obsessing about it pre-race since we have more time on our hands then we are used to and we are getting fired up for our key race. I have tapered many a good taper and have compared notes with many running buddies who have different taper styles than I.
So today, I am going to throw some of my observations and practices out there. I am very interested if you have the same or different experiences. Indeed, the taper was discovered by accident (an elite runner was sick and could not train up until race day, then all were amazed at how fresh he was; Voila = taper became a staple), so we may as well perfect it by sharing what we found did or did not work through our own trials and errors. Read more >>
