I was searching Runner's World for a good article about tapering and found this.
The primary aim of the taper should be to minimize accumulated fatigue, rather than to attain additional physiological adaptations or fitness gains. In other words, it's time to chill.
Reasons to taper:
-replenish glycogen, enzymes, antioxidants and hormones
-repair muscle damage
-improve immune function and muscle strength
Basically, tapering allows the body to undo all the damage caused by high mileage.
Goals for this week:
-run 5 times, 32-33K total (I remember when that was a tough week; now it's a tough RUN!)
-stick to a nutritious diet
-fine tune race-eve and race-day logistics
-stay calm (ha!)
-be excited
5 comments:
Dang girl! Less than 2 weeks! Whoot! I'm excited for you!! ;D ;D
it'll be here before you know it! :)
The taper can be the best and worst time before a marathon, but try to use the down time to mentally prepare yourself for the race. It'll be here before you know it!
Under 2 weeks for you too! Hehe. Enjoy your taper. And if you must shop to fill in some of that free time, so be it. Taper madness = taper shopping!!
You deserve the taper at the end of your training. Runner's Lounge wrote a funny piece about the insanity of the taper. Made me chuckle. (http://blog.runnerslounge.com/2008/09/the-hays-in-the.html)
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