Marathon Training: The Taper Period
For those of you running spring marathons, you will likely be finishing the last of your long training runs and entering '“the taper period”.
This dip in your training is the perfect time to focus on recovery before the big day, so we’ve put together some tips on how to use this time…
Prioritise Recovery Techniques
Now that your runs are a little shorter, you can take more time to focus on helping the body recover. Some of our recommended options include:
Sports Massage to relieve the muscles
Yoga classes to help stretch and ease tension
Light Cross training in the gym to develop strength
2.Focus On Nutrition
Take some time to really perfect your pre-race nutrition plan, take a look back at all the things you’ve tried over your long runs and make a proper race day plan so that you are prepared.
Start to think about your fueling strategy for race week - do you want to carb load? If so then you need to create a structured plan for the few days ahead of the race.
3.Avoid starting any new activities
Starting something new at this stage of training could throw the body into a panic. Now is not the time to start heavy weight lifting or trying tennis lessons, now is the time to keep your body calm and steady ahead of race day.
We recommend light cross training in the gym to keep your strength up as well as gentle stretching classes - you’ll have plenty of time after your marathon to start new things!
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