Taper week and carb loading?

[Sweatyfaced]

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!!

[Hidden]

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 Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to Hidden]

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

[Hidden in reply to Sweatyfaced]

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 Ultramarathon]

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 Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to roseabi]

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

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Sweatyfaced]

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 Marathon in reply to Decker]

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 Marathon]

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 Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to Lordi]

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 Marathon in reply to Sweatyfaced]

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

[Sweatyfaced Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to Lordi]

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

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Sweatyfaced]

Nice one! Congrats! Onwards and upwards.