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  1. #1
    Senior Member keswicksimon's Avatar
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    Tapering

    There was a tapering thread a while back but thought it'd be timely to start another.

    I'm planning on a 4 week taper as this fits around a 3 week trip to France. I'm a little unsure what I should be doing.

    To kick off the following link has a 5 week taper
    www.brianmac.co.uk/bgr/index.htm

    Any thoughts? Any one care to give outline details of their plans?

    Simon

  2. #2
    Master that_fjell_guy's Avatar
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    Re: Tapering

    Just my own thoughts, and I'm definately no expert on tapering for BG/Ultra events. But five weeks seems over long, and that whole training scheme seems, potentially a bit over the top and not very specific on terrain etc for its long stuff, or the weight training routines. My feeling from other things I've done would be that a good three week taper would be sufficient. Particularly if the last two weeks were very rested. I'd tend to keep running, but knock off the hill work and leg work. Maybe just a bit of light cycling if thats you're thing. As I say, I'm no expert, just my gut feelings. This from someone who thinks he may have got his own BG training a bit wrong for this year!!
    I M Povey New Marske Harriers
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  3. #3
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    Re: Tapering

    If I tapered for 5 weeks I'd lose so much fitness I'd fail. I would be looking to doing something tough and long 2 weeks beforehand but perhaps not at full throttle and taper after that.

  4. #4
    Senior Member LM's Avatar
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    Re: Tapering

    I did all my BG training in March and April last year then had 2 weeks where I just ran very slowly on the flat and walked the dog several times a week just to keep my legs ticking over, I did my BG in mid May and it all seemed to work ok for me. I suppose if you've got all the big climbs in your legs then your trip to France should include some fairly long, steady runs, gradually tapering off to 2 week before where you do very little. I was still doing well over 10,000ft of climbing up until the end of April. Like Nigel says, I think I would have worried about losing fitness had I tapered so soon. All the best.
    Linda Murgatroyd, Calder Valley Fell Runners

  5. #5
    Senior Member keswicksimon's Avatar
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    Re: Tapering

    Thanks for the replies so far.
    Of course the replies are not just for me.
    I'm sure there are many BGers out there equally unsure so keep posting please.:thumbup:

  6. #6
    Senior Member elliptic's Avatar
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    Re: Tapering

    Three weeks was fine for me. Last big day out was the Welsh 3000s, after that no long runs but some short hill sessions to keep my legs sharp, and 2-3 hour bike rides at a brisk pace for threshold work...with a very gentle final week, obviously. General idea being to keep the "top end" fitness topped up but cutting right back on training volume and impact.

    Four weeks should be okay if you have plenty of big days already in the bank but I'd be looking to get a decent amount of good quality work - including some hills and quick descending - up until the last week or so.

  7. #7
    Master lantern rouge's Avatar
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    Re: Tapering

    Quote Originally Posted by Mrs Stagger View Post
    I did all my BG training in March and April last year then had 2 weeks where I just ran very slowly on the flat and walked the dog several times a week just to keep my legs ticking over, I did my BG in mid May and it all seemed to work ok for me. I suppose if you've got all the big climbs in your legs then your trip to France should include some fairly long, steady runs, gradually tapering off to 2 week before where you do very little. I was still doing well over 10,000ft of climbing up until the end of April. Like Nigel says, I think I would have worried about losing fitness had I tapered so soon. All the best.
    I was supporting someone else on the day of your round Linda (think it was DT) and every time I saw you, you were smiling...

    You had obviously done something right!

    I am planning a steady taper for the final three weeks but stick to 10,000' a week upto then.

    Everyone has different needs but a taper of much more than that would worry me..

    Good luck to all...
    www.macclesfield-harriers.co.uk
    Teggs Nose Fell Race Saturday 4th August 2018 14.30

    Simon Cartledge

  8. #8
    Senior Member LM's Avatar
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    Re: Tapering

    Quote Originally Posted by lantern rouge View Post
    I was supporting someone else on the day of your round Linda (think it was DT) and every time I saw you, you were smiling...

    You had obviously done something right!

    I am planning a steady taper for the final three weeks but stick to 10,000' a week upto then.

    Everyone has different needs but a taper of much more than that would worry me..

    Good luck to all...
    Thank you Lantern Rouge, I was very happy! I only have two speeds which are stop and go so I could only run it at that pace and if that hadn't have been quick enough then I would never have achieved it. It's really hard with something like this as you wonder if you've done enough and unfortunately you don't really know the answer to that question until the actual day. I'm down to help with at least 3 BG's so far this year and I can't wait.

    Also if you do nothing in the last week then you're really chomping at the bit to get going but just remember not to storm up Skiddaw otherwise you might regret it later.
    Last edited by LM; 26-03-2012 at 01:36 PM.
    Linda Murgatroyd, Calder Valley Fell Runners

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