What happens if I don't taper for a marathon?

Training Advice/Discussion Marathon

9 years ago 04/20/2014 6:27pm EDT

Through my marathon training, I've done 6-7 miles every day of the week, with my long runs on the weekends.

My first marathon is exactly a week from today.

What happens if I just run 6 miles Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 7 miles Tuesday, Thursday. Then, I could do 3-6 miles Saturday, then Sunday is the marathon.

What'll happen? I don't want to reduce my volume too much. I'm freaking out about not tapering correctly. What happens if I just don't taper at all?

What do you suggest I do for my taper? My peak mileage was 60 mpw. How many miles should I run this week, and what do you suggest I do for each specific day? I've been running every day.

9 years ago 04/20/2014 6:42pm EDT

re: marathon taper q

you've screwed up your taper and training but you could possibly salvage the race still if you try the following:

do not run at all this week

lift heavy weights with your legs only Thurs, Fri , and Sat until exhaustion

drink a 6 pack of beer after 6pm Sat. night

eat as much Mexican food as you can between 3am and 7am Sunday before the race

wear cotton underwear (2 pairs) for the race under your race shorts

this will sound like it won't work and it would not if you followed a regular taper etc., but this will work for you as an alternative, I am sure others on the Board can confirm this is the best thing for you to do at this point, or just settle for a bad race result

9 years ago 04/20/2014 7:23pm EDT

re: taco runs

taco runs wrote:
you've screwed up your taper and training but you could possibly salvage the race still if you try the following:
do not run at all this week
lift heavy weights with your legs only Thurs, Fri , and Sat until exhaustion
drink a 6 pack of beer after 6pm Sat. night
eat as much Mexican food as you can between 3am and 7am Sunday before the race
wear cotton underwear (2 pairs) for the race under your race shorts
this will sound like it won't work and it would not if you followed a regular taper etc., but this will work for you as an alternative, I am sure others on the Board can confirm this is the best thing for you to do at this point, or just settle for a bad race result

Renato Conova here. I agree with taco. This is what I have most of my kenyans do.

9 years ago 04/20/2014 7:28pm EDT

re: marathon taper q

You'll be fine. Most low mileage runners way overtaper. You won't feel stale on the starting line like the taper people. You'll crush your race!

9 years ago 04/20/2014 7:30pm EDT

re: Renato Conova

surprisingly I PR'd with something close to this, but I wore 3 pair of cotton underwear and ripped one off and threw it away at the 10 mile mark to reduce heat, good luck

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What happens if I don't taper for a marathon?

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