Taper tantrums

[SNOWRUNNER]

So..i guess that this part of training has arrived eh.
To some its easy and a welcome part of training , while to others its not.

Im in the "not"catagory.
I suppose tapering is just as important as doing hills, speed work, lsd runs and so on.
Ahh, but this is the psychological side of running.This is where the " maybe i didnt" part sets in.Seeing as i missed a few weeks in the middle of the training schedule, maybe i didnt do enough speed work, or enough longs.Maybe i didnt follow the schedule well enough ( ha..i know i screwed that up!).

So are all of these negative thoughts just that..thoughts..
Not all runners are like me, not all will beat themselves up like i do.Why dont we focus on what we did accomplish to get to where we are?
I do belive that i did enough, and did it as to the best of my ability.I mixed my runs about 50 50 trails and roads.
So am i ready to run a 50k trail race?..yep i think so.I will finish it anyway.

  So here is to all who are going through taper..yuck!..
      If your having a taper tantrum go for it, its yours, you deserve it and nobody can deprive you of it!!
                             see ya on the start line,
                                                               Daveyboy. .

[Cathy]

Hey Dave,

You made it this year.  CONGRATULATIONS.  You should be very proud that you have arrived at your taper relatively injury free.  Enjoy it.  Just another couple of weeks.  You know that you can make the 50ker without a problem.  Stay focused.

See you there.  I will be the one with Janet and we will be eating all the Krispy Kream donuts.  Our taper came a little more suddenly.

[SNOWRUNNER]

I know it did bud..i feel so bad for you guys.

glad that you`ll be there anyway, a cheering section is always welcome.
  umm, save me some crispy creams..
               see you on the back of the big toad. .

[Cathy]

Sorry Dave, if you are going and doing 50k you take your chances that there will be any donuts left by the time you get back and if I am not running I will be sitting and eating.  Just your luck I guess.   

[SNOWRUNNER]

Sorry Dave, if you are going and doing 50k you take your chances that there will be any donuts left by the time you get back and if I am not running I will be sitting and eating.  Just your luck I guess.   

  hahaha..evil bud ..just plain evil..
   but i have faith in you, or your ability to miss one as it rolls away. .

[Cathy]

About all that I am good at right now is ROLLING.  You might be sorry you are doing 50k.............

[SNOWRUNNER]

About all that I am good at right now is ROLLING.  You might be sorry you are doing 50k.............

sorry im doing 50k??..hahaha..every other day!..ha..

[Sandy]

You won't be sorry David, you'll fall in love with the distance...next year 80k!!!! 

[Jane]

I find it ironic that Dave posted this under Health & Injury.  So Dave, have you finally figured out that if you taper, it is healthy and if you don't, it could result in injury??  Have you finally realized what a taper is??   

You can drive yourself nuts thinking about your training and whether it was enough while you are tapering.  But you know what?  Even if you didn't do enough, you can't do anything about it now.  Your fate is sealed.  If you go out and run 30K tomorrow because you didn't run 30K six weeks ago, when you should have, you run more risk of harming yourself, rather than benefitting yourself.  It won't make your performance any better at the Toad.

Remember that song by Doris Day - Kay-sera-sera - Well, What Will Be Will Be -- you've done what you can up till this point.  Don't wear yourself out, don't risk injury.  Rest up your legs and they will be so much happier on Sept 29.

The self-doubts are normal.  Don't let them drive you nuts.  I know you know all this.  Maybe some other people don't though.  Or maybe we just need to keep reminding ourselves - me included (my training hasn't exactly been what I wanted it to be!).

And if you start having silly dreams of things like having to stop and do a craft at each water station (like I had when tapering for my first marathon), or having to run the whole race in street shoes, we want to hear about them!

[SNOWRUNNER]

You won't be sorry David, you'll fall in love with the distance...next year 80k!!!! 

HAHA..i may or may not be sorry, but in any case i think that i will put a couple of 50k`s under my water belt before i try an 80k..but 80 does sound attractive to me.Maybe in a couple of years..50 yrs old and a 50 miler..could be a good omen thing.  .

[SNOWRUNNER]

Hahahahaha..crafts at every aid station??..hahahha..that`s funny Jane.. .

I know my training will probably get me through.Kinda like my study habits in school..speed read the night before and hope for the best..HA..
I think that i have made pretty much every dumb mistake you could think of.So this time i am behaving myself( i know i know ya ya )..hehe, but im actually tapering this time.
Alot of newer runners may not know the benifits of doing a proper taper.So this is for them.

DO YOUR TAPER AS TO WHAT THE BOOK SAYS, IF IN DOUBT ASK SANDY OR ANY OF THE LONG TERM RUNNERS OUT THERE!.
You can fool yourself by thinking differently..but you will pay the price.
        and stay out of the fig newtons until after the race!.
As for the wonky dreams of racing bunny`s and knitting a quilt at the aid stations..i will let you know..haha
                                       happy trails,
                                                          David.

[Sandy]

I love you Jane, in case I never told you...you're my favorite! 

[Jane]

 

Now everyone else is going to be upset though, knowing you like me best, Sandy!   

[SNOWRUNNER]

Now everyone else is going to be upset though, knowing you like me best, Sandy!   

Hey Janes the favourite!!..come on everybody lets get her!!.. .

[Jane]

   It feels good!!  But I know that now Joanne will start bringing Sandy treats on trail runs or something like that, and I won't be the favourite anymore!   

However, I am going to enjoy being the favourite while I have the title! 

Sandy, you should use this to your advantage.  You could live like a queen while everyone clamours to be your favourite!