Sloth mode

Tapering goes hand in hand with the race day. It is more associated with the full marathon. It is about reducing the training load gradually and give the body a rest before the race day. Some folks say 3 days prior to the race stop everything. Just eat, carbo load, and drink. So in a way pretty much taking the sloths mode for the week and give it all out in the race day.

It may sound like plan, but not sure whether it is that good. training keeps the muscles occupied, heart on an optimum working level as well as keep the intensity going. Sure rest keeps all the energy stored as well as not make the body rundown. Last thing a athlete needs on a race day is to be run down and be twisted so not get out of the bed. Being on a optimum shape is very important. Being twisted is a shape too. Then being round is a shape one can argue. I guess it doesn't matter as long as you know hard work is done before the race day and it is about being ready and up for the challenge.

So better to cut the training schedule by say 25%, better not do more half marathons as it is just a week away. Anther thing is, if the race is in morning. It is better to do your training in the morning too. But it may clash with work. But try to do early morning sessions. Personally not a fan of morning runs as sometimes it takes a lot out and sometime it is difficult to run straight away like a bat out of hell when you are half a sleep and do long runs.

So work commitments and other commitments may interfere with morning runs, but at least before the race get the body use to the time race starts. If you can, study the race course, do couple of trial runs and sometimes even drink the drinks organisers/sponsors serve on the race day. Why, because dont need many surprises on the race day.

Here is a really good video from Ryan Hall a champion long distance runner