40K - time to taper!

[Bazza1234]

Another big week for me this week - a total of 40Klms (of which 25Klm was run/walk in training for my first HM next Sunday week)

Today's Sunday social 8K with my running club was along the beach - where I found all these little "nippers" (Aussie word for baby lifesavers in training) having fun. Like at parkrun, it is great to see these little ones learning things and getting some life skills and discipline

I am not really sure what to do over the next two weeks leading up to the event -- maybe around 20K next week and only say 10K during the week preceding the Sunday race. Anybody got any thoughts about that?? I have read a lot about "tapering" on th Internet - but there is a lot of conflicting advice - personally I probably feel that I need to have a nice long 3 days before the event doing nothing much!!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Wow it's so good to see you doing so well..and a HM that's so exciting!!

[nhs2015 Graduate]

Looking at your photo, I thought: this is my kind of beach ! Until you talked about the little nippers and then I realised that of course it was my kind of beach !

[AncientMum Graduate]

Lovely photo Bazza. Your tapering plans sound good to me (although I have no experience of tapering) I reckon a full 3 days off sounds about right too. Good luck

[misswobble Graduate]

I agree! 3 days of not running sounds perfect to me. You've put the training miles in and I reckon the last week or so of taper is a good idea. Maybe not tapering is ok if you're young and dead fit. I felt pooped after all the training and was ready for the final taper. You need some good food and kip before the big day, and generally a bit of chilling time. You could do a short jog the day before if you want to stretch the legs a bit

[poppypug Graduate]

Lovely pic Bazza,

Well done with the training, it looks like its all falling into place nicely.

Good Luck ! xxx

[Tomas Graduate]

I think you need to taper. Give your body a chance to recover while maintaining your fitness. That way you peak and have a great race. 20 and 10 km for the two taper weeks sounds perfect. Don't speed up as the mileage goes down.... Same effort level as all the training but fewer miles.

Hope you have a smashing race!

[poppypug Graduate]

Hope your training/tapering is going well Bazza !

At what ratio are you doing the run/walk ? Would be interesting to know !

Thanks xxx

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

I am OK --- having more of a "rest" this week than I expected -- last week was a BIG week for me so this week am feeling quite tired. I expect to be ready to go at the end of next week and will do this HM well rested.

I am doing 60/30 run/walk intervals - trying not to go too fast during the short running segment - 21K is a LONG way!!! I am looking forward to getting back to shorter non-stop running ( I think) . Don't know if I will do another HM -- I thought that long and slow would be the way to go for somebody my age -- but probably shorter and slow is better

[poppypug Graduate]

Good Luck Bazza ! Yes , you gotta do what your body is telling you what to do , the rest will do you good xxx