Comments on: The Taper Starts http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/ my long journey towards the world's toughest race Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:20:09 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Flo http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 Flo Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:22:00 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1158 You've been doing so great so consistently that I have every belief you'll get it. You’ve been doing so great so consistently that I have every belief you’ll get it.

]]> By: Robert James Reese http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1156 Robert James Reese Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:47:23 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1156 Today's run makes it look as though you all were right about the tired legs just being a symptom of the tough week... After my light weekend and a rest day yesterday, I managed 7.63 hilly miles at 6:59/mile pace this afternoon. (Sigh of relief.) Today’s run makes it look as though you all were right about the tired legs just being a symptom of the tough week… After my light weekend and a rest day yesterday, I managed 7.63 hilly miles at 6:59/mile pace this afternoon. (Sigh of relief.)

]]> By: Robert James Reese http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1155 Robert James Reese Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:45:21 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1155 It depends on the conditions. If there's no snow on the ground, I'm going to try my best to finally qualify for NYCM. That's 2:55 which breaks down to 6:40/mile. That sounds scary, but I feel like I have to go for it if I'm having a good day. It depends on the conditions. If there’s no snow on the ground, I’m going to try my best to finally qualify for NYCM. That’s 2:55 which breaks down to 6:40/mile. That sounds scary, but I feel like I have to go for it if I’m having a good day.

]]> By: Robert James Reese http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1154 Robert James Reese Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:42:50 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1154 That doesn't sound like a lot of fun. What do you think caused it? The stress of the upcoming race? Or was it something physical? That doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. What do you think caused it? The stress of the upcoming race? Or was it something physical?

]]> By: Robert James Reese http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1153 Robert James Reese Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:41:33 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1153 I never thought of it like that before, but I like the comparison. I never thought of it like that before, but I like the comparison.

]]> By: carpeviam http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1152 carpeviam Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:28:00 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1152 Rest. Take some iron. You've had a hard week from the high mileage and your body needs some recovery. Rest. Take some iron. You’ve had a hard week from the high mileage and your body needs some recovery.

]]> By: ny wolve http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 ny wolve Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:20:23 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1151 If you have 3 relatively soft weeks (and relatively is key) it ought to prepare you. i think the idea is that it gives the muscles time to heal the micro tears from running and to reduce intramuscular swelling caused by training. And to increase overall glycogen levels from reduced training. So you ought to know what works best for you. If you have 3 relatively soft weeks (and relatively is key) it ought to prepare you. i think the idea is that it gives the muscles time to heal the micro tears from running and to reduce intramuscular swelling caused by training. And to increase overall glycogen levels from reduced training. So you ought to know what works best for you.

]]> By: Flo http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 Flo Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:28:09 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1149 Sounds like cumulative fatigue, as Ewen says, from the mileage and the stairs so I wouldn't worry about it, this is exactly what the taper is for. Get some life back into those hardworking legs of yours and you'll rock Albany with a vengeance. What are you going for? Sounds like cumulative fatigue, as Ewen says, from the mileage and the stairs so I wouldn’t worry about it, this is exactly what the taper is for. Get some life back into those hardworking legs of yours and you’ll rock Albany with a vengeance. What are you going for?

]]> By: Sarah http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 Sarah Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:56:39 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1148 Don't taper too much. Plus, you are guaranteed to feel weird during the taper. You will likely have several more runs that just feel awful. These will make you worry about the marathon and how it will go. However, that's what always happens during the taper - at least during my tapers. The last tempo run that I did before Phoenix, I gave myself an asthma attack 4 1/2 miles into a 5 mile tempo and couldn't finish the run. I was only going about 7:05/mile. I averaged a little above that for the whole marathon. Don’t taper too much. Plus, you are guaranteed to feel weird during the taper. You will likely have several more runs that just feel awful. These will make you worry about the marathon and how it will go. However, that’s what always happens during the taper – at least during my tapers. The last tempo run that I did before Phoenix, I gave myself an asthma attack 4 1/2 miles into a 5 mile tempo and couldn’t finish the run. I was only going about 7:05/mile. I averaged a little above that for the whole marathon.

]]> By: Ewen http://www.tobadwater.com/2010/02/the-taper-starts/comment-page-1/#comment-1147 Ewen Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:04:40 +0000 http://www.tobadwater.com/?p=681#comment-1147 I think you'll bounce back during the rest of the taper for Albany. You said it pretty much -- 86 miles including the ESBRU, so a big week. When you're having a week where your legs feel stuffed on every run, I'd say just keep running easy (by feel) until they start to come round. Also, I pretty much agree with not tapering too much, as you can lose aerobic condition. Increasing the intensity as the miles come off can avoid this, but you have to tread carefully there too. I think you’ll bounce back during the rest of the taper for Albany. You said it pretty much — 86 miles including the ESBRU, so a big week.

When you’re having a week where your legs feel stuffed on every run, I’d say just keep running easy (by feel) until they start to come round. Also, I pretty much agree with not tapering too much, as you can lose aerobic condition. Increasing the intensity as the miles come off can avoid this, but you have to tread carefully there too.

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