Please remind me why I have to taper!!!

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2007-06-04 6:52 AM

Expert
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Miller Place, Long Island
Subject: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!
I have my first race of the season this Saturday (MightyMontauk Oly) and I already have the "taper blues" just thinking about taking two days off this week is killing me.


2007-06-04 7:38 AM
in reply to: #827963

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Champion
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Fountain Hills, AZ
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!
Because you will show up at your race and be as fast as lightning on fresh legs and rest!
2007-06-04 7:44 AM
in reply to: #827963

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COURT JESTER
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ROCKFORD, IL
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!

Because you just had a baby 4 weeks ago and sleep is at a premium and therefore the energy to train is not always there and a taper is FORCED.  Sorry, that's me.

As for you.  If you want to go for a short and EASY bike ride in the day or two before the race JUST to stay loose, keep some fresh energy in you, and use the time after to stretch well, then do it.

Did an easy 15 mile bike last year the day before a race (sprint) and felt like I had a good race day.

2007-06-04 7:46 AM
in reply to: #827963

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Master
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La Crosse
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!
You should taper to allow any nagging injuries from training to fully heal. It's stuff you might not notice if you were just training, but they could really make your race day agonizing.

Like so: I had a blister on one toe from a particularly long run. Tapering allowed it to heal fully so that I didn't have to have duct tape over it on race day. Made for a much more enjoyable race.

Edited to improve usage of the English language. It's early, dagnabit, and this coffee is DECAF (i.e.: useless).

Edited by stupidnickname 2007-06-04 7:48 AM
2007-06-04 8:26 AM
in reply to: #827963

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Expert
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St. Louis
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!

I have always preached and practiced this, and it has always worked:

You get faster when you rest, not when you train.

You have to give your body some time to let all your hard work "sink in."  If you're constantly punishing your body day after day, week after week, relentlessly... you'll never give it a chance to benefit from your hard training.

 So... enjoy some time off.  Appreciate your apprehension... it's normal.  And when it gets to be Saturday, know that you've prepared yourself to have the best race ever. 

~B

2007-06-04 11:13 AM
in reply to: #827963

Expert
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Salisbury
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!

You'll be faster with the rest!!

2007-06-04 2:17 PM
in reply to: #827963

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Expert
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Spring (Houston), TX
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!
I agree with tupuppy. I find that if I do some very light workouts, it helps me stay loose. So for a Sunday race, I may go for a 30 minute bike ride in the small ring, then on Saturday do a 15 min run, 15 min bike, and 15 min swim. All low HR, low RPE just to not tighten up.
2007-06-04 5:10 PM
in reply to: #827963

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Champion
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Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!
you do not have to taper if you know you can do the distance and you do not care about your time. If you want to be wicked fast you need to rest but you do not have to rest its just advisible.

oh yeah and helps prevent overuse injries which can occur becuase in thgeory your working hard in the race than you would normally train.

Edited by chirunner134 2007-06-04 5:11 PM
2007-06-04 6:52 PM
in reply to: #827963

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Champion
19812
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MA
Subject: RE: Please remind me why I have to taper!!!

You should taper so you get really cranky and annoy the heck out of your family before your A race of the spring.

Well that is what I felt like...

Now that my A race is done, I have a week off no training for 6 days then next week is flexible with limited training so I'm sure I'll be a peach and my family will enjoy a non-training Mom. I keep reminding myself need a little downtime to recharge my mind and body before starting my build up to my late Fall HIM.

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