Interested to hear thoughts/advice on the following decision: I am just about ready for IMC and am trying to decide how to treat this upcoming week. Just finished a big couple weeks ending with this weekend and the legs at this moment are pretty shot, though I am sure they will recover in a few days. While I had been planning one more fully big week, given my current state, I was thinking of doing something between a 3 vs 4 week taper meaning shorten up my mid week long run from 2.5 to 1.5 hours so I can get enough recovery to put in alot of good riding this weekend, including a 110 mile ride, then going to taper mode from there (3 weeks out). I guess my question is whether in other’s experience there is alot lost by shortening up that last long run (background: last week did 2:20 long run, have done 2 hrs+ 3x over the last 45 days + a HIM, and several 1:45 runs through the year, last week was biggest mileage of yr (36) but I have put in about ten 30 mile weeks through the course of the year). My tenative thinking at this point is that its better to get some recovery so I can put in one last block of quality this weekend rather than trying to slog through a long run while not recovered enough and then not be recovered enough for a quality final big bike.
I’m doing IMC also. What’s your goal in the race? Mine is to finish in a reasonable time without injury and without being in the med tent. I’m thinking I should be able to go about 12 1/2 hours if all goes well.
I’m still two weeks away from my biggest week of training. I’ve done a few bikes between 80 and 90 miles, and a few runs in the 15-16 mile range, but my biggest bike week won’t be until August 11th where I’ll go 100 miles and my longest run of 20 miles will be August 14th. I think everyone’s different. I don’t like a long taper. Two weeks for IM seems perfect for me.
My “longest” long run placid was in the penutimate week before my taper (my taper was 3 weeks) .
Since running requires longer time for recovery so if you’re feeling shot already drop it back (you could maybe run a second time that day if it will make you feel better mentally about getting the miles in) in order to keep up the bike and swim volume. you should then be in good shape to sharpen your run in the taper rather than being destroyed. (just my unqualified 2 cents…
