10/07/2026
It's Taper Week for Charles and Joseph! This is an important time where their bodies will absorb the training and become stronger for race day. This is also a difficult time for many long distance runners — if done right, you arrive at the starting line, fit, fast and ready to go. If done wrong, you arrive at the start line exhausted or even worse, injured.
Here are a couple tips for a successful taper;
1. Keep your intensity, but progressively drop the volume of your runs.
2. Fight off the "taper crazies." (You are not getting a rare tropical disease because you coughed and just because your workout didn't feel great, doesn't mean you aren't ready!)
3. Don't change up the routine. (Don't add other stuff to "make up" for less running.)
4. Emphasize sleep!
5. Moderately increase percentage of carbs during the week of the race. (No need to eat never-ending pasta 2 hours before the race!)
Have a great race! We will be drawing the winners the week after the Grand Rapids Marathon, so head over to https://www.stridersrun.com and sign up for the Challenge!
