Time to taper

Time to taper

The big day is nearly here. In the past week my training runs have gone down. And down. And down.

Aunty Lydia (running mentor and creator of 16 week schedule) tells me it’s time to taper.  ‘Taper?” I am only learning about this aspect of training for the first time.

In the schedule it appears alongside words like ‘easy’ and ‘rest’. The mileage has gone down, the rest days have gone up. 

In the dictionary ‘taper’ appears alongside words like  - narrow; wane; die down; dwindle; lessen; recede; subside; abate; diminish; rescind; slacken off. Words that make me feel uneasy. Words that feel like the opposite of what I should be doing. 

The crux of this ‘tapering’ lark appears to be to ‘slacken off.’  Which is obviously appealing after 16 weeks of ‘cranking up’.

So what, I hear you ask, is my problem?!

My problem, I am fast realising, is my need to over-do stuff. To over-prepare. To over-compensate. To always try and do just that ‘little bit more’ than I have to. 

Stupid, I know.

I am definitely one of the ‘more is more’ brigade. Why run for an hour when you can run for two? Why write five words when you can write ten. Why have just one glass of wine when you can have three?

Why indeed?!

It’s because I like to be over-prepared.

Over-done.

Over equipped.

Possibly even over-practised.

I never know when enough’s enough. Never have!

I am definitely a ‘just in case’ person. I will throw that extra jacket in ‘just in case’. Swallow three extra gels, ‘just in case’. Buy five pairs of socks. Three camel baks.  All in the name of ‘Just in case’.

I have a neurotic need to be twice as prepared as the next person. If I see something I like I will buy two - ‘ just in case’ . Of what? I’m not entirely sure.

I must let go of this peculiar personality quirk. Embrace the ‘less’. Enjoy the ‘taper’.

Repeat after me. . . ‘Less is sometimes more and rest is sometimes good.’

In running as in life. In life, as in running.

Yet a little voice keeps nagging in my ear.

“Don’t you think you should have just one more long run. This can’t be it. Surely! You are definitely not ready yet. No way!”

Insecurity?

Probably!

I am definitely not secure in my ability to do a long run.

I have run over 30 kms just once in my life. And I am not at all certain I can do it again? What if it was a fluke? What if my legs are a ‘one long run’ wonder.

That is completely possible.

I know I can run a half marathon. I have done that before. But I don’t know that I can do two of them - in one day. Not yet, I don’t. 

I should be enjoying this slackening off period.

So why is it making me feel so ‘antsy’??

Probably because all through winter I have been cracking the whip. Being disciplined.

Running in rain, hail or snow. Grinning and bearing the broken toe. 

And now, suddenly, I am allowed to be lazy for a few days. 

Yesterday I did my last run before D day. The schedule said ’20 mins’, which is probably the shortest run yet. 

A few months ago I would have been proud to run for 20 mins without stopping. It would have been a goal. But, today it hardly seems worth getting out of bed for.

Which is a GOOD thing! An amazing thing!

Hallelujah for that!

I should be using this tapering time to appreciate how far I have come.

And be grateful that my body has made this progress. 

I should have faith in its ability to carry me over the 42.2 km line.

Yet???

I just wish I felt a wee bitty more sure of myself.

I know it’s human nature to not appreciate how far I’ve come. To quickly accept progress as the ‘new normal’. And I should use the ‘taper’ to address this.

The ‘taper’ is my ‘calm before the storm’.

According to Dr Google

During the ‘taper’ I should. . . 

Take time out. 

Get a massage.

Drink lots of water. 

Go to bed early. 

Stock up on vitamin C.

Shout myself salmon.

Take some deep breaths.

Do those core exercises I never got around to doing.

Check my plane tickets.

And race registration.

Take my foot off the pedal.

And out of the running shoe.

Cruise. . , 

I should trust Aunty Lydia.

And do what I’m told.

I should sit back for a bit.

Relax

And see how life unfolds.