Keep moving during taper week

Keep your body moving without adding fatigue, says Head Coach Ben Lucas, and arrive at the start line fresh.

One of the biggest mistakes I see every Sydney Marathon build is runners thinking taper means doing nothing. So they stop moving. They skip strength. They spend the week sitting around because they're worried they'll tire themselves out. The funny thing is, they often arrive at the start line feeling flat.

Why tapering doesn’t mean stopping

Tapering is about reducing fatigue while keeping your body moving. You're not trying to get fitter this week. You've already done the work. Now it's about letting your body absorb all that training and arrive on race day feeling fresh and ready to run. Try to:

·       Go for a walk to keep up your mobility

·       Do a short strength session if that's part of your routine

·       Keep doing Pilates if you enjoy it

·       Go for an easy run, either on the treadmill or outdoors

The key is that everything should leave you feeling better than when you started. Not more tired. That's the balance you're looking for.

How to know if you’re tapering correctly

I often ask runners, does your tapering make you feel fresher? If the answer is yes, you're probably on the right track. If the answer is no, it can probably wait until after the marathon.

Trust your training. The fitness is already in the bank. Now your job is simply to arrive at the start line healthy, confident and ready to enjoy one of the best days of your year.

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