Tapering for Happiness

Tapering and happiness go together. Tapering is the process of cutting back on your training distances in the weeks and days leading up to an endurance race such as a marathon or half marathon. Happiness goes with tapering because those endurance runners and walkers who master tapering tend to be the happiest with that pre-race period as well as with their race results.

I can best explain “tapering for happiness” by sharing an email exchange that I had with a woman named Kim who wrote to me recently. Here, in this order, are her original message, my reply, and her thank-you. I hope that it helps you to taper for happiness!

Kim’s Original Message

After seven years of running approximately six miles a day for five days a week, I decided to take on a marathon.

I’ve done the training and put in the miles. I already feel like I’ve accomplished a major goal. Now, I’m wondering what I’ve gotten myself into and am nervous.

When I’ve run races, I’ve been almost overwhelmed by the sensory overload of having so many people around as I am used to the peace of being alone on my runs. Now, twenty thousand people and spectators?

At this point, I am trying to focus on rest and taper. I’m trying to overcome stress and overthinking everything.

I’m looking for any tips to enjoy the experience.

Thank you,
Kimberly

My Reply

Kim,

Thank you for writing. Your wonder and nerves are totally understandable … and typical!

Regarding the sensory overload, I know what you mean. When I would reach somewhere around mile 22 in a marathon, the spectators used to be too noisy for me. It was as if the stress of running / walking that far had hypersensitized me to sound. But now I consider it from the spectators’ perspective. They’re excited for the other racers and me, and they probably have been standing around for hours by that point. So they have a lot of positive energy to share.

The rest-and-taper thing is BIG for first-time marathoners. It seems illogical. But tapering and rest right before an endurance race are proven techniques to have a better race.

Regarding the overthinking thing, here’s what my coaches have taught me. If you’ve put in the miles (or kilometers), then your body is ready. But your mind will keep racing for “things to do” — so GIVE IT something to do. What, exactly? Make a checklist of everything that you want in place for the morning of the race. (I talk about checklists in Mental Tricks for Endurance Runners and Walkers.) And I mean EVERYTHING. Seriously! Keep your mind busy this week making a checklist of the clothes you’ll need, the fact that your GPS wrist unit has to be charged, when you have to leave home to reach the parking area in time, etc.

By the way: If you believe that checklists are for wimps, then consider the fact that airline pilots and surgical teams — whom we trust with our LIVES — use checklists all the time!

Finally, and related to my about-to-be-published new book (Gratitude Power for Runners and Walkers), start making a list of everything for which you feel grateful as a runner. Maybe even share the list with your husband and with your running buddies. Doing this will put you in a state of gratitude that will help you to enjoy the race as well as your time remaining leading up to the race.

Best wishes with your upcoming race!

Health/Gratitude/Happiness,

Kirk

Kim’s Thank-You

Thank you so much for taking the time to e-mail me a response.

I believe in making lists, and training for this marathon has made me a believer in having a plan.

This is excellent advice that I will put into action today. I am looking forward to writing about why I run, already. You are more than welcome to publish my e-mail.

Love,
Kimmie

Do You Taper?

Does this email exchange resonate with you? If you struggle with tapering, then please share your struggle here. Or, if you have mastered tapering, then please share how you mastered it!

Either way, please leave a comment below so that fellow runners and walkers can benefit from your experience!