Taper week and carb loading? - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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Taper week and carb loading?

Sweatyfaced profile image
SweatyfacedHalf Marathon10 Miles
12 Replies

Got my first HM at the Royal Parks next week and feeling good! But is Taper week really a thing? And do I need to carb load? If so, any recommendations on how to do it well?

I was semi-planning 12k on Sunday with my normal Monday swim then a 2k on Wednesday and another 2k on Friday.... does that sound about right?

Happy running everyone and best of luck to all those with events this weekend!!

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Sweatyfaced profile image
Sweatyfaced
Half Marathon
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12 Replies

Mine’s on the 13th and I just intended to eat normally as I always eat a lot of carbs. Tapering is part of the training plan I’m following, so I guess it’s a thing.

Sweatyfaced profile image
SweatyfacedHalf Marathon10 Miles in reply to

Lucky you - I love carbs but I can't eat much as I rapidly become the size of a house if I do!

But it seems like eating normally is the order of the day so i will do so! Thank you! Xxx

in reply toSweatyfaced

I’ve run five days a week, 20-30 miles a week during training, and I normally run most days if not every day, so I guess I just burn it up

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon

It's a good idea to reduce your runs in the few days before a half marathon, so that you feel fresh for the day. Your plan looks fine to me!

Carb loading is not necessary, just eat as you normally do. I recommend giving chilli a miss the night before the race though 😄 xxx

Sweatyfaced profile image
SweatyfacedHalf Marathon10 Miles in reply toroseabi

Thank you - I will do that. Was planning a mushroom risotto for the night before....xxx

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply toSweatyfaced

Taper is an important part of the training process. I believe that any progress made in the last week of training does not yield physical results until a couple of weeks into the future so there is no sense in pushing hard in that last week. Just easy runs and recovery for the muscles and bones.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toDecker

I love taper 😃. I don’t carb load as such though. I might eat a bowl of salmon pasta for tea the day before. I eat porridge oats every day anyway

Lordi profile image
LordiMarathon

My HM is on 12 Oct so I'll do my last long run today (6th Oct) which will be a joggy 21k (virtual Cardiff HM) just to remind myself what the full distance feels like, and then maybe just a slow jog 3-4km leg-loosener midweek a couple of days before the race.

I do eat lots more pasta carbs a few days before but nothing too extreme, and no loading the evening before, just normal portions to avoid a stuffed belly on race day.

Normal breakfast, 2 enery gels before the start, one more at 10-11k.

Sweatyfaced profile image
SweatyfacedHalf Marathon10 Miles in reply toLordi

I was thinking a mushroom risotto tonight but things have not gone as planned this week. Going to make chicken kievs instead! I also didn't get two runs in but I hope it will be ok.

Lordi profile image
LordiMarathon in reply toSweatyfaced

The fitness is baked-in already. A few runs just before don't make much of a difference. Good luck!

Sweatyfaced profile image
SweatyfacedHalf Marathon10 Miles in reply toLordi

You were right of course; I achieved my target of sub 2hrs30 and it was all fine on the day! Xxx

Lordi profile image
LordiMarathon in reply toSweatyfaced

Nice one! Congrats! Onwards and upwards.

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