The Taper Blues

I just began my Ironman taper. This means my workouts are low intensity (except some pick ups during runs to make sure my legs are still alive) and much shorter than what I have been doing for the last several months. You would think that the short workouts would feel easy and great after weeks of long rides, long runs, and hard track practices that left me hobbling for days.

 Unfortunately that is not the case. My legs feel like lead, I feel like I am swimming so slowly that I may drown, and I am sore in spots I never was during the weeks of 110+ mile rides and 18 mile runs. Luckily for me, I was told this is normal. Coach said we may not feel great this week. We may not feel good next week. But we will be fresh and ready to rock in Cozumel. It is my body recovering from the weeks of insane miles I put it through. I also feel tired even though I have been sleeping 8+ hours a night. I also noticed that my miles may have decreased but my appetite sure hasn't slowed down!

I found a great article on Active.com about The Taper Blues and it seems I have a slight case of it! I have also almost fell into a few taper traps that Runner's World discusses. I have to keep in mind for the next few weeks that there is nothing I can do to squeeze in any extra fitness. In fact, it would be detrimental for me to even try. It is time to nurse my bumps and bruises, stretch my tight muscles, know that my workouts may feel sluggish, and get my mental game together for the big day.

I have never tapered for a race this big nor ever had a taper this long and I am certainly ancy! To the experienced Ironmen out there- please reassure me that this is how taper is supposed to feel and that I won't feel like this on race day!