HIM Tapering....Let's hear it!

I usually spend my time worrying about my fitness and having self-doubt about my ability to survive the race....then I switch attitudes and think I'll win....and back and forth and back and forth for days.  Too much time online too.....when I should be using the free time to catch up on the stuff I neglected during all of the training!  I think I spent two whole days writing and editing my race list, and another two days gathering together everything that I "might" need, and maybe one full day packing it all.....

Good luck to you!!!!!  Tapering is not easy...but everyone has to do it!

I did my last long ride two Saturdays before my HIM and last long run the Sunday that same weekend.  Then the training time fell a lot...  I trusted my coach and love a good taper, so I happily spent the time on the 4 months worth of errands I had ignored and went out to eat with friends and family.  Amazing how much time there is after work for that when you're not trying to do two workouts. 

I spent the week before my race with very few workouts (i.e. 20 min easy swim one day, 20 min run another) and making lists and packing (out of state race), which caused more trips to buy things.  Realizing, for instance, that I had run out of sport drink powder and gels.

i think it all depends on your training plan, volume etc....

october
week 1 - 12 hrs
week 2 - 11.5 hrs
end of week 2 taper begins
week 3 - 8 hrs
1 week prior to race
week 4 - 4.5 hrs

personally after last 6 weeks of 12 hr weeks my body is ready for rest my legs are not recovering quick and i can feel it during next training session.  my swims are ok but i need a rest day in between so my lats can rest.  body is telling me to rest....

Tapers are very particular to the individual and their overall fitness.  I just did Augusta 70.3 a few weeks ago and my training was probably quite average.  One week before the race I did my hardest workout in a long time.  I did a brick of 25m bike, 5m run, 25m bike, 5m run.  That was Saturday.  I took Sunday off.  Swam 600 easy on Monday.  Took Tuesday off.  Ran 24 minutes on Wednesday.  Then took Thursday and Friday off.  The day before the race I did a short brick of 1m run, 3 mile bike (I think), 1m run.  I don't typically do any workouts the day before a race, but I decided to workout with a few friends.  It had no adverse affects because I was not pushing the pace at all and barely broke a sweat.

On a race like a HIM I would typically start a taper about 1 week out that winds down quickly to doing practically nothing for three days prior to the race.  I learned this from NCAA winning swim coaches.  It works for me, but it might not for you.  If you are in shape for the race it shouldn't really matter if you don't workout for a whole week before a race, however, you can do more than you should that week and screw up the race for yourself.

Chris

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' 'bout!  Great info!  Thank you.  But one more question: do you personally use it exclusively for cycling, running, swimming or all 3?

Thanks again!