The taper. That
phase at the end of
your training plan
when you cut back
on miles and catch
up on sleep is the
best – and the
worst. With all that
newfound time in
your day, self-doubt
ferments. Taper
tantrums can leave
us restless and
miserable, buteasing back is hugely
important.
Like cramming
for an exam, trying
to find last-minute
gains is doomed to
fail. Relax and let
your body repair so
you can toe the start
line in good shape.
Compromise by
shelving the three-
week taper and
cutting back for10 days before the
race. The shorter
cut-back on mileage
still leaves far too
many hours to fret
about everything
that could go wrong,
but it lets your body
and mind get into
prime condition, and
at least your family
don’t have to suffer
your tantrums for
quite so long.WOMEN’S 1. London Edition
Windcheater
£100, newbalance.co.uk
Wear for warmth in Greenwich,
then with pride on The Mall.
The official VMLM jacket
blends heritage style with
modern performance.- London Ice 2.0 Tank
£29.99, sportsshoes.com
Loud and proud London design
with technical cut and fabric. - Dead Head Crew Socks
£16.99, stance.eu.com
Stance’s sock art pays tribute
to psychedelic rock legends
The Grateful Dead, with high
performance via targeted
compression, breathable mesh,
cushioning and arch support. - Alphaskin Sport 2.0
Embossed 7/8 Tights
£37.95, adidas.co.uk
Alphaskin construction wraps
the body to support movement
while the fabric wicks sweat. - Vaporfly 4%
£209.95, nike.com
You may not hit a 4:38 min/
mile, but you can get energy
return from the same carbon
footplates that drive Kipchoge.
MEN’S 1. Cambrian Striped
Drirelease T-shirt
£68, iffleyroad.com
Vintage style and technical
micro-blend fabric that’s
super-soft and sweat-wicking.- Classic Shorts 2.0
£75, soarrunning.com
An update of a classic: mid-
length cut for freedom of
movement, brief-style liner to
keep things secure and bonded
seams to minimise chafing. - Fresh Foam 1080v9
London Edition
£140, newbalance.co.uk
A big race deserves a
distinctive shoe. The
special-edition details hit
the sweet spot and the
midsole gives a pillowy ride. - Stripe Merino Sock
£15, ashmei.com
A merino wool and carbon
blend delivers excellent
thermo-regulation and sweat-
wicking for supreme comfort.
THE TAPER
MAKES YOU
HUNGRY
FOR RACE
DAY
No.x1 // Anxiety is key. Use the month before the
race to channel all of your energy toward
what could go wrong. You could get hit by
a bus, for example.2 // Put more effort into a playlist than a race
plan. On long runs, when you hear a song
you don’t like, be furious with your past self.3 // Download the marathon map and take
a Google Maps tour of the course. Visualisetwisting your ankle at every turn. Visualise
sitting on the kerb and crying.4 // You’re going to need three full weeks to
fantasise about what you’ll eat after the race.
Tell your partner, your best friend, everyone.
They won’t care; it doesn’t matter.5 // Obsess about the weather, the thing
you absolutely can’t influence. Remember:
it’s all about fuelling the ineffectual anxiety!6 // Abstain from alcohol for the last two
weeks before race day. Be a real martyr;
people love that. You’ll be sparkling company.7 // Spend the last three days before the race
preoccupied with the timing of your bowel
movements. Treat your impending toilet
schedule with the same care as a pregnancy.8 // Conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t
change anything after your longest run. Don’t
let that stop you from changing every piece
of gear minutes before you leave for a race.9 // Pick a ‘power colour’. Try ‘electric yellow’- the colour of wee after one has consumed
too many vitamins. Then pick another colour.
10 // Turn up to the race about half an hour
earlier than you think you need to. Make that
an hour. Is that enough time? Jump around
in the start corral. Do stretches you vaguely
recall from school cross-country, even
though you know they won’t do anything.You can be
irrationally
anxious!
No.
The time before a big race lends itself well
to debilitating nerves. So for those of you
consumed by thoughts of race-day
catastrophes, here’s a guide to maximising
pre-race high anxiety and accomplishing
absolutely nothing in the process.No. CARB
LOADING
1
BIG LOVE
That temporary state of dietary nirvana
when sports nutrition dictates that you
indulge in a week-long personal pasta
party, followed by the actual pasta party.
You’ve earned it. You deserve it!MAY 2019 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK 0434