Confession: Unlike most runners heading towards the Marine Corps Marathon, I am not yet in taper land. I have to do one more long training run before I head to taper.
Instead of running long this weekend so I could start my taper, I was single parenting Shoo while he played in a soccer tournament (Beer Geek and Jones were off on their own adventure.) My Saturday consisted of driving lots of miles at stupid early in the morning, watching two games in the rain and then heading home to try to recover (which may have involved meeting a friend for a beer and a bit of vodka.)
Sunday was supposed to be more of the same, but after another stupid early drive in the rain, I got to watch Shoo play for two minutes before his head slammed into the field. As you can imagine, the rest of the day involved concussion tests, a trip to the pediatrician, and attempting to keep a 10 year old quiet. (He appears to be fine. We’ll follow up with the doctor on Tuesday morning.)
All that to say: I’m not in taper yet and I’m mentally ready to be there. Why? Because I excel at tapering.
Today on Tuesdays on the Run, we are discussing taper. What are your quirks? Your rituals? Your cravings? Tell us!
My quirk, if you will, is that I love to taper. I enjoy running more “joy” miles and fewer “I must run a specific distance miles.” I get more sleep. I have the time to clean my house in a way I can’t manage during marathon training. I love how fresh my legs feel towards the end of taper. Thanks to lots of race experience, I no longer question whether I’ll still be able to race my prescribed distance. I know that if I’ve put in the training, I can do the race.
Let’s not talk about the lack of training I’ve put in. I’m still going to taper.
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Wow, hope things are okay with your son at his follow up visit.
I am so far behind on my training that I may not have time to taper. Or perhaps I should just taper and call it a day..lol
I got in one last long run, so now I have 2.5 weeks to taper. I figure it’s better to be well rested than to squeeze in any more long runs.
There’s definitely something to be enjoyed about the taper! You have more time to do things you might be putting aside as you focus on training. You “have” to get sleep in order to do well on race day. And I agree – the more experience I have with racing, the less nervous I am during the taper period.
I’ve got a link-up for meeting other runners training for MCM2016! Would love it if you joined in on the fun!
I’ll go over and check out the link up now. I have to admit I’m going to enjoy running fewer miles for a while.
I’m the opposite…I suck at tapering! I always find another race or fun run to add to my schedule because not doing anything makes me crazy. I prefer to have a packed schedule during race season! Weird, I know.
I only taper for marathons. I don’t for half marathons. But I need the break right now.
Are you going with a 2 week taper then? I am contemplating that as my training has been sub par at best. I did one 20 so there’s that. But yeah this whole summer has been kind of a taper for me.
It’s about 2.5 weeks until the race. I just did not have time to run long this past weekend. I would have had to do it on the treadmill and that was not going to happen.
I enjoy tapering, too…if only the crazy dreams wouldn’t get me! 🙂
I’ve been so tired, I haven’t had any dreams yet. I imagine that will change.
As this is the first time I’m training for a full marathon, I’m not sure what quirks I’m going to find when I start to taper. I have three more weeks of training before my taper starts, but I’m more than ready to start the taper now. I’m definitely looking forward to sleeping more and having time to do things other than running!
My to do list is a mile long right now, but since I ran 17 yesterday, I actually get to work on it today.
Hope that kiddo is ok! Very scary.
I love me a taper too. Of course I’m often traveling through them, so not really so restful, but hey, that’s my choice!
I like traveling and we usually do a lot of walking and hiking, but just not running as much really helps me.
I hope your son is OK after that. I’ve had a mini-concussion, but it’s easier for a 17-year-old to understand being quiet.
I enjoy taper miles because they decrease with each run, but it’s the phantom pains my mind creates. That stuff’s not cool.
Yeah, he came to me with his inline skates and wanted to go skating while he was in concussion watch. I was like, umm, no.
I so need to adapt your healthy taper attitude! It drives me crazy and I always feel as though I need to make up any missed runs. Bad, bad, bad. 😉
Hope your son is okay!
Making up missed runs will just make you tired on race day. Don’t do it!
Kiddo seems to be fine now.
Oh I hope your son is alright! I have tapered for races but since this will be my first marathon, I’m not sure how this taper will feel…but I still have a few weeks before I have to worry about it!
I think I was a bit nervous the first time, but since last year’s taper was 5 weeks due to bronchitis, I’m feeling a bit better prepared this time.
I hope things are okay with your son and your last long run! I definitely get better at tapering and managing the nerves the more often I do it, but there’s still a bit of anxiety each time. I’m with you – I enjoy getting out just to move during the last week before a race, without worrying about paces or distance or anything more than fun.
Long run done! The kiddo seems to be doing fine. I’m exhausted, so looking forward to some down time.
I hope your son recovers quickly.
ha! This is great 🙂 My legs as so tired right now at 5 weeks out from my race – I think I will be good at tapering too!
Thanks, he seems fine.
My legs are pretty good, but I’m just wiped out in general.
Ack! I hope he’s okay! That must have been so scary!
I also excel at tapering. I’m technically in taper now but I’m still tired so… zzzz…
It was pretty scary, but he seems fine now.
I’m exhausted right now. I’m so glad that this training cycle is over.
I love tapering, but is that just the lazy part of my brain telling me that I’m really good at running less? I’m not sure that I’ve ever fully felt the benefits of the taper, but I think I’ll keep trying because I sure like it 🙂 Glad your son is okay – scary stuff!
It’s a fine line for me – I have to rest, but I have to run enough so my legs remember what running feels like. If I take too many days off I get sluggish.
Hope your son is ok! I like your mindset around taper – tapering makes me a little…ok a lot crazy!
I think I’m just naturally lazy, so to have a legit excuse to cut back is nice LOL.
I hear you on the “joy miles”. I have done a small taper for my half marathons, I am curious to see how I feel about the taper for the marathon this winter.