It’s Taper Time

Today officially starts my taper for the marathon. . . less than 2 weeks to go!

I am doing a two week taper for the Mayor’s Marthon. I know most plans have you taper for 3 weeks, but over my years of running competatively, I’ve found that I actually perform better with a shorter taper. To me, it feels like my body gets in too much of a relaxed mode otherwise before the big day. Plus, my body is used to doing quite a bit of running.

It worked last year, so I hope it works again this time!


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I took it pretty easy on today’s run since I was still sore from my 22-miler on Saturday. My thutt (thigh + butt) muscles are especially sore!

Distance: 6 miles

Time: 54 minutes

As soon as I got back, I quickly made breakfast because I didn’t have anything to eat before heading out.

The last rhubarb muffin + Green Monster protein smoothie.


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A recap on last week’s mileage:

Monday: 7 miles + 30 minutes of weight lifting

Tuesday: 10 miles with 7 miles at marathon pace

Wednesday: 10 miles + 30 minutes of weight lifting

Thursday: 6 miles + 60 minutes of yoga

Friday: 5 miles

Saturday: 22 miles

Sunday: off

Weekly total: 60 miles

This week I am planning on running about 35 miles.

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Question

How long do you taper for your races?

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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6 Comments

  1. 6.6.11
    Holly said:

    Good luck on your marathon! That’s exciting that it’s so close!!

  2. 6.6.11
    Michaela said:

    We race much shorter distances, but we only taper aggressively two or three days before races. We do a slight taper for 1-2 weeks ahead of time (10-15% decrease in distance, shorter hard efforts and more steady state/easy efforts), and then 2-3 days beforehand, we taper really aggressively–50% reduction or more from our typical week, with very little speed.

    I find that if you taper too soon, or too hard, your body treats it like a sigh of relief and you end up losing your edge and sometimes getting sick..

  3. 6.6.11
    lifttorun said:

    I hate tapering to be honest. I usually just lighten up my load of workouts two weeks before a race, but I honesty don’t taper that much as one should.

  4. 6.6.11

    I slowly cut down my miles both swimming and running. I actually don’t taper too well but that is just me personally. I normally only do about half the amount of miles before the race. For instance I went from doing 60 to 30 before our big XC championships over the course of 3 weeks. It was perfect.

  5. 6.6.11
    Chelsea said:

    Good luck on your upcoming marathon!! Your miles are so impressive!

  6. 6.7.11
    megan @ blackberries for jam said:

    I loosely followed Hal Higdon’s plan, so I went with the traditional 3-week taper. It felt so long!