Every good marathon-training plan should ‘taper’ during the final two or three weeks. That means you run less and rest more. For some people, the idea of backing off on their training just before the big race seems counter-intuitive. "So many

goal pace) except for two miles run in the middle of a mid-week four-miler at marathon goal pace. “Even this small amount of goal-pace running is important because it physically and mentally reinforces the pace you want to run on race day,” says Baldaro

worries can skyrocket. But take comfort that thousands of other marathon runners preparing to race this coming weekend are going through exactly the same thing. And take refuge in your final mission: to ensure that your body is sufficiently fuelled