The stages of the Taper
By Joe Bator
Stage 1 - Exhaustion: there is nothing like reaching taper time. You have
worked and built for months. Your entire being has been worked to the
breaking point and usually beyond. You almost look forward to the taper
with this sense of longing when it is a ways off. Once you get there your
body just wants to collapse. You are not sure if you will even be awake
come race day.
Stage 2 - Pain: You have moved past exhaustion and now your body is
starting to understand that the workouts have become less and maybe you will
not be putting yourself through the same punishment in the future. Your
fight or flight muscles start to relax just a little bit and everything
hurts. Places you long ago stopped feeling are screaming at you. You begin
to wonder if you can even make it to the start line. You begin to check the
weather, if the forecast is good you don't believe it.. You view anyone
remotely sick as someone to be avoided at all costs yet expect to catch
every disease known to man before race day.
Stage 3 - Awkward: You are no longer screaming out in pain but your body
still doesn't feel right. Workouts are sluggish and uncoordinated. You
feel famished but are afraid to eat anything because you will put on the 5
pounds you worked the last 5 months to take off. You find yourself standing
in a room wondering what you are supposed to do. You start semi limping
even though you don't have to. You have a vague feeling that you really
should be working out more then you are and start to think, maybe I should
ride 50 miles tomorrow to make sure I still can. You check the weather
often and are convinced it will be worse then forecast. At this point you
are pretty sure you will be able to race but certain it will be ugly.
Stage 4 - Nervous and jerky: You are starting to feel better and stating to
go faster in your workouts. You have more energy then you know what to do
with but are nervous that you will use it all up before race day. You
start listening to faster and louder music. You are inclined to race
anything you see. You start to believe you can do anything. Your co-workers
are ready to kill you. You are starting to think you might be able to
actually do ok on race day you are constantly checking the weather and no
matter what it is don't trust it. However, are afraid to speak of the race
in fear you might jinx it.
Stage 5 - Calm: Hopefully this comes a day before the race. You feel
strong; know what you can do and now just need to execute. The exhaustion
and pain are gone. The awkwardness from earlier is also gone. The
nervousness that you feel now is different it is more about anticipation and
excitement. The hay is in the barn. It is time to do those same rituals
you do. Eat the same thing. Wear the special socks or lucky shirt. You
are ready to go but in no rush to get there. You can visualize your race
and know it is too late to change anything now. You are beyond wondering
how the race will unfold you will know soon enough.
Joe B
Stage 1 - Exhaustion: there is nothing like reaching taper time. You have
worked and built for months. Your entire being has been worked to the
breaking point and usually beyond. You almost look forward to the taper
with this sense of longing when it is a ways off. Once you get there your
body just wants to collapse. You are not sure if you will even be awake
come race day.
Stage 2 - Pain: You have moved past exhaustion and now your body is
starting to understand that the workouts have become less and maybe you will
not be putting yourself through the same punishment in the future. Your
fight or flight muscles start to relax just a little bit and everything
hurts. Places you long ago stopped feeling are screaming at you. You begin
to wonder if you can even make it to the start line. You begin to check the
weather, if the forecast is good you don't believe it.. You view anyone
remotely sick as someone to be avoided at all costs yet expect to catch
every disease known to man before race day.
Stage 3 - Awkward: You are no longer screaming out in pain but your body
still doesn't feel right. Workouts are sluggish and uncoordinated. You
feel famished but are afraid to eat anything because you will put on the 5
pounds you worked the last 5 months to take off. You find yourself standing
in a room wondering what you are supposed to do. You start semi limping
even though you don't have to. You have a vague feeling that you really
should be working out more then you are and start to think, maybe I should
ride 50 miles tomorrow to make sure I still can. You check the weather
often and are convinced it will be worse then forecast. At this point you
are pretty sure you will be able to race but certain it will be ugly.
Stage 4 - Nervous and jerky: You are starting to feel better and stating to
go faster in your workouts. You have more energy then you know what to do
with but are nervous that you will use it all up before race day. You
start listening to faster and louder music. You are inclined to race
anything you see. You start to believe you can do anything. Your co-workers
are ready to kill you. You are starting to think you might be able to
actually do ok on race day you are constantly checking the weather and no
matter what it is don't trust it. However, are afraid to speak of the race
in fear you might jinx it.
Stage 5 - Calm: Hopefully this comes a day before the race. You feel
strong; know what you can do and now just need to execute. The exhaustion
and pain are gone. The awkwardness from earlier is also gone. The
nervousness that you feel now is different it is more about anticipation and
excitement. The hay is in the barn. It is time to do those same rituals
you do. Eat the same thing. Wear the special socks or lucky shirt. You
are ready to go but in no rush to get there. You can visualize your race
and know it is too late to change anything now. You are beyond wondering
how the race will unfold you will know soon enough.
Joe B
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