For what are you tapering?

DX2JX2
DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
Given that spring race season is underway, I know that I'm not the only person on a taper today.

I'm tapering for a half marathon in Atlantic City on Sunday (my first!). The weather forecast is odd, it's either going to be below 50F or 70F+ depending on the travel of a weather front from New England. Those temps make clothing choice a bit tricky but I'm sure I'll manage. I also haven't run in temps above 40F for months so it'll be interesting to see how I do if we get the warmer weather.

My goal is run the race in 9 minute miles or better. I plan to go out at 9:05-9:10 for miles 1-3, 9:00 flat for miles 4-12, and then run the last mile with everything I have left. Based on my training times, I'm actually hoping that there's upside in that time. I plan on taking stock after the first 10K and then again at mile 10 to see if I want to adjust my times. Wish me luck!

Anybody else racing this weekend? Good luck to you if so!

Replies

  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Once the season starts I have a marathon roughly every two to three weeks apart. What that means is, not much point in tapering.

    The one I did for weeks ago was pretty much pre season, I have a double in two weeks and then pretty steady out to October.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Given that spring race season is underway
    It is? We still have snow on the ground...
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Given that spring race season is underway
    It is? We still have snow on the ground...

    We're supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow *tomorrow*. :s
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Given that spring race season is underway, I know that I'm not the only person on a taper today.

    I'm tapering for a half marathon in Atlantic City on Sunday (my first!). The weather forecast is odd, it's either going to be below 50F or 70F+ depending on the travel of a weather front from New England. Those temps make clothing choice a bit tricky but I'm sure I'll manage. I also haven't run in temps above 40F for months so it'll be interesting to see how I do if we get the warmer weather.

    My goal is run the race in 9 minute miles or better. I plan to go out at 9:05-9:10 for miles 1-3, 9:00 flat for miles 4-12, and then run the last mile with everything I have left. Based on my training times, I'm actually hoping that there's upside in that time. I plan on taking stock after the first 10K and then again at mile 10 to see if I want to adjust my times. Wish me luck!

    Anybody else racing this weekend? Good luck to you if so!

    Good luck!! I hope the weather cooperates and you crush it!

    I have my last 20 mile run this weekend, then I will be tapering for the Flying Pig marathon on May 6th. It will be my third time running this marathon and I am not looking to PR, so I probably will enjoy my taper rather than deal with the "taper crazies".
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Given that spring race season is underway
    It is? We still have snow on the ground...

    We're supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow *tomorrow*. :s

    Lemme guess... Canada?
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Given that spring race season is underway
    It is? We still have snow on the ground...

    We're supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow *tomorrow*. :s

    Lemme guess... Canada?

    Minneapolis. For weather, it might as well be Canada.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Given that spring race season is underway
    It is? We still have snow on the ground...

    We're supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow *tomorrow*. :s

    Lemme guess... Canada?

    Minneapolis. For weather, it might as well be Canada.

    Hey, we had a very pleasant 16 (60F) in my part of Canada yesterday. B)

    Sorry for detouring the thread, h.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    edited April 2018
    I've spent the week tapering for a cycling metric century tomorrow - meaning I've been throwing the kitchen sink at major allergies and a sinus infection, and staying indoors as much as possible because of the wind from hell (it worked, I feel mostly human :) )

    My goal is to get as close to a 14 mph average as possible (not likely, but will keep me pushing) in preparation for a more difficult metric in 2 weeks. Best of luck everyone, and have fun! :drinker:

    CA bay area - on and off rain, mostly on for days I plan a training ride, but expected to be in the low 70's tomorrow. My sincere condolences to those who are still suffering from severe winter weather; I grew up in Queens and I feel for you.
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    First day back after my taper...an easy 5K to recover from a half marathon on Sunday. My legs felt like boards but it was nice to get the blood going again.

    Let's just say that my first half marathon experience wasn't one that makes me ache to do it again. The weather was crap and a perfect illustration of why runners have to remind ourselves that not every race can be a personal record.

    After two days of beautiful weather, race day was chilly (40F) with rain showers and worst of all, a steady 20 mph wind (with stronger gusts).

    It was an out and back course, and that wind was literally directly into our faces for the last 7 miles of the race except for when the buildings along the course made gusts swirl and turned it into a side gale that literally knocked you sideways.

    Safe to say the wind absolutely killed me. I missed my target time by about 2 and a half minutes. Based on my split times, I'd guess that the wind cost me about 6 minutes. Possibly more if I consider that I probably gave too much credit to the tailwind on the out half and ran the first 6 miles a little too fast.

    I actually still had a decent chance to hit my target in the 11th mile and made an effort to pick up the pace but the wind gusted at that exact moment, knocked me sideways, and knocked a garbage can right in front of my path. That was the moment when I gave up on the goal and just wanted the race to be over.

    It was not a fun experience and I think I'm fine not to run another organized race for a while.

    Ironically, I'm signed up for another half marathon in two weeks. The people I originally signed up with dropped out so I wasn't planning on running it but who knows. Maybe I'll have a change of heart over the next week so I can taper again starting on Monday.
  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    I'm tapering for a half marathon this Sunday in Toledo, OH. Currently my legs are really sore from a circuit training workout yesterday so I need to be stretching and soaking those muscles.

    The forecast currently looks good for Sunday - 53 degrees, mostly sunny, not windy. Hoping that holds out! Because right now it's cold and windy with a bit of rain/snow mix and I'm not loving it at all.

    @DX2JX2 that does sound pretty miserable. Cold rain and very windy is about the worst. Maybe the next race will be a beautiful perfect day and you'll love it.