Tapering for Race Day

      Tapering for Race Day

      Things I have learned:     

            A very bittersweet time is that of a taper.  As a mid packer, I am not a 100-mile a week kind of runner, in fact I’m barely a 50-mile weekly kind of guy.  I am working my way up so that I can handle a higher stress load each week in preparation for races to come.

            The thing about a taper that is sweet yet sour is the fact that I get to lighten the running load compared to how I trained previously in preparations for my race.  My taper is for a 50k so it really does not have to be so intense as it could be for a 50-mile or beyond, yet, I always like to stick to the safe side and insure past racing pains have to time to stay away.

            Racing pains are odd feelings I have that either existed in the past, or just are similar to past pains I have had.  After the Traveler in 2011, I screwed my left knee up and left foot (Metatarsal around the second and big toe) due to over use, I simply did not train enough for my race.  I did finish it, and I was proud, and at this point I know that I finished with enough room to spare of not having a bad injury, but man, I pushed it very close.

            Many runners say that it is better to receive a dnf then to push through what is perceived as a “serious” pain.  This concept can truly only be understood by a persons own proprioceptive understanding of their body.  A doctor can tell you a regular breakdown of how things go for the body on an average basis, and an experienced runner can explain his or her own lessons learned through pushing through the pain.  Both words of wisdom are highly valuable, but in my opinion, with running, the persons understanding through experience and training is the only true way to know whether you can push onward or call it quits.

            When I taper for a race, my body tends to speak to me so much vibrantly (vividly).  I feel so many little pains, almost as if my body is becoming hesitant of the moments to come (which usually starts about 2 weeks out of race day).  I believe that it is my bodies’ way of connecting with my mind, explaining what feels weak, what is strong, and in the spirit of the realm of an ultra runners silly passion, maybe it’s the bodies way of pleading not to do it too.  All I know, is when my body tells me what hurts and what feels good, I am able to concentrate on that given area, determine if it is an injury or just an awareness to watch out for, and I can usually push onward with the race.

            I have never had to drop out of a race do to injury, even though I have had these tender pains beforehand, I usually focus on my taper, and heal up to 100% so come race day I’m ready to roll with the punches and complete the distance.  It is almost inevitable that a race is going to hurt, that is just part of what you sign up for!

            Its all good and fun, and as a runner I have been able to find that connection within myself that speaks to me how I feel, who I am, and what I can push myself through.  Ultra running is simply running, I can’t say I am different then a 5k runner or half-marathon runner because we are all the same.  I just simply enjoy the feeling of pushing further then most people like to think possible, and what makes me feel good about it is that there are many people like me who do not put up with normalness, instead they run and love it.

-Cheers-