Taper madness/badness

ronanmac

Don’t know about anyone else, but this will be my fifth marathon and so far my tapers have been all been consistent, as in consistenly disastrous!

Marathon 1: New York – Started training from a fitness level of zero (or less if possible), and by the time I came to the taper side of the training programme, was so shagged that I did pretty much nothing for the last three weeks. Bringing tapering to a whole new level :rolleyes:

Marathon 2: Berlin – Got a virus five days before the marathon, spent the two days prior to the run in bed in a flat in Berlin, and was hit by a dose of what Sonia would call the Big D five minutes before the start of the race.

Marathon 3: Florence – Jarred my knee a week before the run, and 15 miles into the marathon, damaged my medial knee ligaments. Walked the remaining 11 miles for a very depressing 5 hours 20 minutes of a marathon!

Marathon 4: London – Was building my house at this stage and a few weeks out from the marathon, I fell from the scaffolding and shagged my (other!) knee. A run walk strategy was my only way around London. I remember swearing somewher on the Isle of Dogs that I would never do another marathon...

Marathon 5: Dublin – Everything was going to be different this time! Started training in January, everything going well, no injuries, lost weight, definitely the best I was ever prepared. Four weeks from the marathon, had to go to north Africa for work. Got detained by the National Guard there, equipment taken off me, couldnt go for a run the rest of the week as had to wait by the hotel phone to hear from the Ministry of Interior. Was stopped four times by customs while trying to leave the bloody country, resulting in three missed flights. Stayed in a hotel in Charles de Gaulle that night so I could get a flight to Shannon in the morning, the hotel went on fire at 3am. Completely shattered for the rest of the week.
The following Saturday, drove my wife, son and mother in law 515 miles to Portsmouth for a week’s holiday where we stayed with my wife’s uncle who insisted that we go for a feed of pints in an Irish club on Sunday morning. Old school! Anyway, ended up with a cold and again, little running done. Off work for the past two days with a cold, and just glad that the marathon is on Monday and not earlier in weekend!

Does anyone else find that their taper doesn’t alway go to plan?!

henryporter

Jebus, that last one sounds like it could be made into a movie!

I'm sitting at home with a wounded knee hoping things improve come monday, but your tales of woe makes mine seem like a walk, or should I say run, in the park.

Hope you make it to the finish line ok!

hisholinessnb

Due to a bit of back muscle spasming my tapering began last saturday.
Basically I havent done anything since friday and dont think I will take a chance between now and then.

Is this too much tapering or should I try a couple of miles later in the week?

henryporter

My physio says do nothing - the work is done already

tunney

ronanmac wrote: »

Don’t know about anyone else, but this will be my fifth marathon and so far my tapers have been all been consistent, as in consistenly disastrous!

Marathon 1: New York – Started training from a fitness level of zero (or less if possible), and by the time I came to the taper side of the training programme, was so shagged that I did pretty much nothing for the last three weeks. Bringing tapering to a whole new level :rolleyes:

Marathon 2: Berlin – Got a virus five days before the marathon, spent the two days prior to the run in bed in a flat in Berlin, and was hit by a dose of what Sonia would call the Big D five minutes before the start of the race.

Marathon 3: Florence – Jarred my knee a week before the run, and 15 miles into the marathon, damaged my medial knee ligaments. Walked the remaining 11 miles for a very depressing 5 hours 20 minutes of a marathon!

Marathon 4: London – Was building my house at this stage and a few weeks out from the marathon, I fell from the scaffolding and shagged my (other!) knee. A run walk strategy was my only way around London. I remember swearing somewher on the Isle of Dogs that I would never do another marathon...

Marathon 5: Dublin – Everything was going to be different this time! Started training in January, everything going well, no injuries, lost weight, definitely the best I was ever prepared. Four weeks from the marathon, had to go to north Africa for work. Got detained by the National Guard there, equipment taken off me, couldnt go for a run the rest of the week as had to wait by the hotel phone to hear from the Ministry of Interior. Was stopped four times by customs while trying to leave the bloody country, resulting in three missed flights. Stayed in a hotel in Charles de Gaulle that night so I could get a flight to Shannon in the morning, the hotel went on fire at 3am. Completely shattered for the rest of the week.
The following Saturday, drove my wife, son and mother in law 515 miles to Portsmouth for a week’s holiday where we stayed with my wife’s uncle who insisted that we go for a feed of pints in an Irish club on Sunday morning. Old school! Anyway, ended up with a cold and again, little running done. Off work for the past two days with a cold, and just glad that the marathon is on Monday and not earlier in weekend!

Does anyone else find that their taper doesn’t alway go to plan?!

My taper for IM Austria was sorted messed up on me. Got hit by a bus And then spent the next three weeks getting daily physio to get to the start line.

RacoonQueen

2 and a half weeks before Edinburgh 2009 got hit by injury and was out. Friday before last fell off my bike with compliments of Dublin bus, run once and cycled once since - not sure whether Dublin is even possible now. Least you got to take part in your marathons.

TFBubendorfer

Feeling like having bricks attached to my legs after never really recovering from the Dingle marathon 5 weeks ago. Was completely exhausted after 13 miles on Monday.

Decided 2 days ago that full rest would be the best option. Wondering what I let myself in for, but will be there anyway.

KentuckyPete

I'm totally screwed up at this point - don't know whether I'm coming or going -esecially after putting two fine tears in my achilles two weeks ago - was flying up to then - broke 1:43 for Cork-Cobh an' all.

Between doubts over injury, ice baths, physio, then having to feed and taper anyway, no exercise, everyone else in the house having a cough or a cold and the standard buildup of pre-race nerves it's fair tense I can tell you. Not a stroke being done in work half the time.

As the guy who couldn't speak with nerves before a small race like TriAthy and who was puking in the garden with the tension the morning of the Eireman tri, the rest of this week should be interesting.
FFS, this is a way bigger event - my first marathon - with way more training and buildup done. Neither me nor (I assume) Mrs. Pete is looking forward to the next few days

Still, where else would you rather be, eh? Well, the same place without the injury for starters I suppose...

Could be worse - I could be ronanmac

RJC

God lads,

I'm feeling better already.


All I have is a head cold (same as last year - Vicks Vapo Rub is your only man!)

Krusty_Clown

I feel great! But people around me in work are dropping like flies...
Like Macbeth the Scottish play, nobody wants to mention the 's' word.

tunguska

Taper has been a disaster. Both heels started hurting me a few weeks ago. Used trigger point therapy which worked on one foot but not the other. Kept running even though it was pretty painful, but **** it, cant let a little pain stop me. Then started to feel a cold coming on. Thought it was my imagination so didnt take any action. But a few days later the incubating cold started to kick in. Went to doctor and got antibiotics, which shows how much this marathon means to me because I never take antibiotics. Took the drugs and thought I was in the clear but then last night(tuesday) started feeling terrible in the evening. Got worse and worse. Spent the night alternating between shivering and sweating, peppered with bouts of feverish delerium with the odd nightmare thrown in for good measure. Decided another trip to the doc was required. Went in, he examined me and said that I'd gotten myself a very heavy dose. More antibiotics and so Im hoping they'll kick in and do the job so that Im back to full strength by monday. Also went to Charlemount clinic and had foot x-rayed. No stress fracture, no nothing, just some plantar whatever its called. All in all a nightmare but Come monday I'll give it every thing I have.

henryporter

Are we all mad or what?

christeb

tunguska wrote: »

Taper has been a disaster. Both heels started hurting me a few weeks ago. Used trigger point therapy which worked on one foot but not the other. Kept running even though it was pretty painful, but **** it, cant let a little pain stop me. Then started to feel a cold coming on. Thought it was my imagination so didnt take any action. But a few days later the incubating cold started to kick in. Went to doctor and got antibiotics, which shows how much this marathon means to me because I never take antibiotics. Took the drugs and thought I was in the clear but then last night(tuesday) started feeling terrible in the evening. Got worse and worse. Spent the night alternating between shivering and sweating, peppered with bouts of feverish delerium with the odd nightmare thrown in for good measure. Decided another trip to the doc was required. Went in, he examined me and said that I'd gotten myself a very heavy dose. More antibiotics and so Im hoping they'll kick in and do the job so that Im back to full strength by monday. Also went to Charlemount clinic and had foot x-rayed. No stress fracture, no nothing, just some plantar whatever its called. All in all a nightmare but Come monday I'll give it every thing I have.

That sucks buddy - hope you shake it off pre Monday.

Also, yes we are nuts and I'm not coming back into this forum for fear of catching something

Jenfer

had posted this in marathon thread but its more at home here!

My first marathon- did something to my ankle on my last LSR and only cycled for the last two weeks before marathon.

This year- All was going well for me up till last friday- ITB -have been resting, icing, stretching and putting anti-inflamatory cream on (dont know if it makes much odds but doing it anyway!) since Friday- was very upset at idea that I might not make it- but today things are looking much brighter- maybe sub 4 is out of the question- but come hell or high water I will be lining up on Monday with everyone!

No running this week so far at all - methinks, better to be slightly undertrained than injured going out on Monday! Hopefully a few days of really minding ourselves and wrapping up in cotton wool will solve all our woes!

tunguska

christeb wrote: »

That sucks buddy - hope you shake it off pre Monday.

Also, yes we are nuts and I'm not coming back into this forum for fear of catching something

Cheers dude. Just some bad luck thats all. I think it was lifes way of getting back at me because up until all of this happened everything had been going great, was even thinking about sub 2:30. But now..........Like I said, I'll give it everything I have.
Hope your taper is going well and that you'll get your 3:10.

nerraw1111

Jebus, they're some stories. And here I am worried about a sore calf which appeared out of no-where yesterday. I think i've narrowed down the cause of the pain to learning how to drive.

After each lesson, my right calf is very stiff and sore, which I'm blaming on the new sensation of pressing pedals.

Raging_Hull

This thread is certainly not for the faint hearted; I just hope it's not contagious:D

Runonewon

Just think of Monday evening basking in the hazy glow of a completed marathon thinking to yourself "ya know that wasn't too bad,i think i'll start training for Boston"All the pains will have dissappeared!!!!.Well thats my plan and i have no choice but to stick to it as mt Achilles has decided to kick me in the ass! Best of luck everyone,enjoy.