This post is rated Olympians and Ironman.

I HATE THE TAPER! (but love this photo courtesy of cooktraineatrace.com)

T.A.P.E.R

If you have ever completed an endurance event lasting longer than 5 hours, you understand the importance of tapering. For months, we exhaust our bodies with countless hours in the pool, on the bike and in our running shoes. We train our bodies to last and to build endurance for race day.

The fact of the matter is that we can never simulate the exact race day experience on our training. No one trains for 10 hours straight in any single day leading up the race. We know this much mentally, but when it comes to time to back down our physical bodies resist.

If you are anything like me, the taper is the most uncomfortable part of the Ironman journey. I know its coming (it always does) but that doesn’t make it any easier.

I know everyone is different when it comes to specific tapering methods. I am not going to suggest based on my personal practice. I will say that I start my taper 10 days ahead of the race. I am of the belief that a long taper period (2 weeks or more) does more harm than good. Rest is critical don’t get me wrong, but I want to arrive on race day with my body not having to “remember” what it was like to go long.

The taper is tough and it takes a toll…

Trust Your Training

Adjust Your Calorie Intake

Perfect Your Race Day Strategy

Enjoy the extra “free time”

Rest and Recover