Taper can be challenging to get right. Your active kilometres, well, taper off to allow your body to recover from the slog of endurance training, and feel fresh for event day.
The challenges include too much time, not enough activity, still too hungry and logistics to get your head around.
I'm writing this from Briancon, in the week before the CCC at Chamonix. I've dubbed our Airbnb my "Briancon Bunker" where I'll finalise my preparation for the epic challenge to come, and this has inspired this post on things to do right before an ultramarathon.
Showing posts with label taper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taper. Show all posts
Loop after loop after loop
Last weekend was the biggest running weekend I've ever compeleted - 82ks in two runs.
On Saturday I met up with a friend who dragged me halfway around the river loop before I headed for home a little slower.
On Sunday I started in the dark, and took in this view on a loop around Enoggera Reservoir at the Gap.
On Saturday I met up with a friend who dragged me halfway around the river loop before I headed for home a little slower.
On Sunday I started in the dark, and took in this view on a loop around Enoggera Reservoir at the Gap.
Progress report / reality check: Ironman Cairns 2014
With 11 days to Ironman Cairns, I'm well overdue for a recap and reality check.
Is my injured pinky back to normal? Am I happy with my training? How is taper going? And how do I think race day will unfold?
Read on for the answers.
Is my injured pinky back to normal? Am I happy with my training? How is taper going? And how do I think race day will unfold?
Read on for the answers.
The magic eight
The Kurrawa2Duranbah website is telling me there is 21 hours and something to go. (Because I'm a slowie I've got an early start so for me it's 20 hours and something.)
I'm feeling like my physical preparation has been pretty good. Mentally, though, I've probably done less than for other events and my strategy is all about the magic eight.
I'm feeling like my physical preparation has been pretty good. Mentally, though, I've probably done less than for other events and my strategy is all about the magic eight.
(Avoiding the) Taper Tummy
It's taper time. It's two weeks until the Kurrawa2Duranbah.
Taper means less volume, and usually some higher intensity work. Taper is the time you tell yourself that the physical side is done and all that's left to do is to keep yourself healthy and work on the mental side of your game.
For me, taper also means taming the appetite to avoid what I've come to call "taper tummy".
Taper means less volume, and usually some higher intensity work. Taper is the time you tell yourself that the physical side is done and all that's left to do is to keep yourself healthy and work on the mental side of your game.
For me, taper also means taming the appetite to avoid what I've come to call "taper tummy".
The holding pattern
I flew to Melbourne yesterday and got my registration out of the way.
I packed and repacked my transition bags a few times today.
Well, more than a few.
I packed and repacked my transition bags a few times today.
Well, more than a few.
28 days and hatching Plan B
It's four weeks to Ironman Melbourne. In 28 days time I'll, hopefully, be heading towards halfway through my marathon.
Hopefully.
I hit a bit of a setback this week in the form of a tight gluteus maximus / piriformus. No injury as such; it's just tight as hell. This means a fair bit of rest in the short term to avoid more serious injury. Which, given the timing, translates to a slightly longer taper than I'd planned on.
Time to hatch Plan B.
Hopefully.
I hit a bit of a setback this week in the form of a tight gluteus maximus / piriformus. No injury as such; it's just tight as hell. This means a fair bit of rest in the short term to avoid more serious injury. Which, given the timing, translates to a slightly longer taper than I'd planned on.
Time to hatch Plan B.
Focus on the positives
Taper has been going nicely. I have had a massage and my last long run on Saturday, 1.5 hrs, felt good and was over before I knew it.
The key to a good taper, though, isn't just physical. More than anything, it's about getting yourself mentally prepared.
On Saturday as I ran past a bus stop and a would-be passenger called out as I passed, "I wish I could do that. I've got busted knees". I realised how lucky I was to be able to consider running a marathon. It was then that I remembered how important it is for me to spend this week focussing on the positives.
The key to a good taper, though, isn't just physical. More than anything, it's about getting yourself mentally prepared.
On Saturday as I ran past a bus stop and a would-be passenger called out as I passed, "I wish I could do that. I've got busted knees". I realised how lucky I was to be able to consider running a marathon. It was then that I remembered how important it is for me to spend this week focussing on the positives.
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