It’s marathon taper time and you’re feeling cranky, tired, and sore.
You’re running less so how is that possible? What the heck is going on?
We call this marathon “taper tantrums” and they aren’t unlike the temper tantrums we’re used to as mother runners. It’s because your body is tired and, well, hungry in a way (aka depleted) and needs rest and restoration (just like when your kids are melting down because they need a nap or a sandwich.) The marathon taper can be, well, kinda scary. Because all of a sudden you get these aches and pains, you feel rundown and sick, you’re lethargic, and many people panic that the lack of running will hurt them on race day.
To ease some of your worries, I consulted some experts and want to give you a little background on the marathon taper and why this happens: When you start tapering, your body is depleted. So, cutting back on mileage helps your body (muscles, tendons, glycogen levels, hormones, enzymes, immune system) recover and build itself back up. However, during this process, you may experience some discomforts.
Here is why:
You have aches and pains.
As your tissues repair, some muscle twitches and cramps can occur explaining some of the pains you feel. Also, since you’re so focused on…