IM Taper doubts...

How does that taper volume compare to your previous taper volume?  How did you feel during your first IM taper?  Was it too much, too little?

My guess is that the taper volume might be a little higher than previous or other beginner plans since it's an intermediate plan.  You've been logging some serious volume, so I think the taper is relative to your plan.  

Of course right now in your training you'll probably feeling tired and fatigued and feel like that the prescribed taper isn't enough.  But once you get past the last few high volume weeks and start tapering the given taper volumes might feel ok.

I would personally follow the taper plan but if you feel like you're still too tired and not rested enough, maybe cut the volume back a little more to meet your body's needs and adjust it accordingly to how you feel.  You know your body better than a generic piece of paper does

Very good points from everyone so far.  I agree that Taper is an individual thing.  Some may need more, some less.  Good point from Janelle....maybe I should pay attention to signs that my body is giving me.  When I reach week #2 of taper and 11.5 seems too much, I'll cut it back.  Adding intensity rather than volume also sounds good (thanks JohnnyKay).  Knowing uber-ironman JeepFleeb uses a similar taper tells me that it's in line with what "fit" triathletes are doing.  My goal is to avoid carrying too much (any) fatigue into IMWI yet balance enough training that I don't "peak" too early.

Good stuff BT peeps.

key to taper is what you do won't really help you but won't you don't do can hurt you.

Does not compute....I can not make sense of this....

I think what Steve- is trying to say is "True love is blind"

OK, that was a great scene from Old School.  I have no idea what Steve- is trying to say.   I rode 6.5 hours on the bike with him, and 4 hours in the car on Sunday....and I am still trying to figure things out

What Steve means is what you don't do can hurt you but what you do do will not hurt you as much as if you don't do what you think you can do but don't but can't.

Glad I could clear that up.  Any other interpretations you need?

~Mike

So let me get this straight.  What's more important is what I do do not as much as what I did not don't do when I do.  So what I don't do can hurt me more than a doo doo?

Wait....I think I got lost somewhere...

Descartes:  To be, is to do.

Plato:  To do, is to be.

Sinatra:  Do be, do be, do.

OK, we're way off in the ditch now.

What I mean is that tapering is really resting up your body enough to race at full capacity.  As we all know, we don't get strong by working out, we only get strong by RECOVERING from working out.

And if you subscribe to the theory that it usually takes approx 3 weeks to truly realize 100% fitness gains from a workout...a taper basically is allowing your body to recover so that you're at PEAK fitness on race day.

Too much taper and your fitness will peak too early and too little taper and your fitness will not peak on race day.

I've attached a VERY crude chart illustrating what I mean by:

"During a taper, what you do won't help you but what you don't do can hurt you"

(taper illustration.jpg)

where is the chart....  my body takes about 2 weeks to recover fully I think...

oh never mind.. the giant white sheet just display as I hit the submit button..

What are you trying to say Steve?  I think some color in the chart would help  

color schmuler....

 let's just not ufck this part up, we worked to hard to get here to peak too early. (please no jokes about peaking too early, it's a sensitive subject for me.) 

Hey Steve-  I think what you are trying to say is "You people are all being big booger heads" Thanks for the purty pictures btw.

just like jeepfleeb says....follow your plan the last month as best you can. if there is every anytime you do NOT want to miss a workout (besides your peak weeks) it's during your taper.

but like jeepfleeb refers to it...this is all about "progress not perfection" so do your best with the days that come, but take an extra effort to not miss any workouts the last 4-5 weeks of your IM plan...this should get you hitting your peak weeks and then taper you well for the race. hell, i missed a 20min scheduled core workout this week....but hey, what can i do about it? nothing, so i just drive on and try extra hard to not miss anymore (easier said than done)

again, my chart is simply an academic explanation of the taper comment I mentioned "what you do can't help you but what you don't do can hurt you" because an IM is not like cramming for a test, you can't fit a big bike or run in the last minute in the hopes that you'll be that much more prepared.

you're are a very strong athlete (I know, I broke my chain trying to keep up with you on a hill...ha ha ha) so don't worry and do your best. and remember, when race day comes....we are all ROCK STARS!!!

IMKY and IMWI athletes....Lousiville and Madison better watchout because we're gonna tear it up out there!!!!

Thanks Steve.   Although the ha ha ha didnt have to be added   Looking forward to seeing you again in ummmm 4 weeks!!!!

You know it scares me that I think I understood that.