What's Your Tapering Strategy ? - Training

Mick Rice

20/08/2002 at 14:31

I'm running a local marathon in Longford, Ireland (www.longfordmarathon.com) this coming Sunday and so I'm in the middle of my last week and am tapering. I normally do this by only doing some light running every second day and not running at all the day before the race. Total miles for the week will be something like 20 at a slow pace. How does this compare with what others do. I'd be very interested to hear and it'll stop me going mad from not being able to train :-)

Xerxes

20/08/2002 at 15:08

The last sentence is really good - you want to be absolutely itching to run on the day!

Your strategy sounds perfect to me. Perhaps yu could go for a very easy 2 or 3 miles on the day before, just to keep yourself under control?

Ironman

20/08/2002 at 15:09

For a two week taper, I would be looking at reducing my 'normal' training week by 50% in the first week and then to 30% in the second week. I think the tip is not to reduce the intensity of the training but just to reduce the distance, so that you keep yourself sharp. If the race is on a Sunday I would make my last training run on the Thursday, I would take a rest day on the Friday, then a very easy couple of miles the night before the race.

Gareth

Ironman

20/08/2002 at 15:09

PS. Good luck for Sunday :o)

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