So I hear that the pissiness index goes through the roof during IM taper. I haven’t really started my taper yet, and was wondering what to expect and when to expect it. I’ve already pre-warned my family that I might become a raving lunatic when I’m at home resting in Milwaukee.
So, IM veterans… humor me by filling in the blanks
Week 1-
Week 2-
Week 3-
Jodi
Seriously, the taper is the taper and you are going to feel weird and lethargic and you might not feel good until a few days before the race (everyone is different on this one) - just remember it let’s you hammer on race day.Week 1 - feels kinda good to be better rested, not sore all the time, and WOW amazing what I can do with all my free time.
Week 2 - Feel like crap. Tired. WHY AM I GETTING SO FAT?!?!?!? Too much f*cking spare time! MAN I SHOULD HAVE TRAINED MORE! I don’t know what I was thinking siging up for this. Boy, I never realized how many *ssholes are on slowtwitch! Better check to see if there is any info on IMCDA on slowtwitch.
Week 3 - SHT! SHT! SH*T! LET’S GO!!! When is this damn race??? Wait, this is what I have been waiting for! Less than a week and I am an IRONMAN! YES!!! Thank god for those guys on slowtwitch! Hey slowtwitch, should buy new 404s for my IM? Hey slowtwitch, should I run 404s, 808s or a disc for IM? Hey slowtwitch, critique my packing list! Hey slowtwitch…
This really is a question for ATX Trihead. Talk about PISSY!!! I’ve considered locking him in a closet until race day.
I didn’t get generally pissy, except for when it had been a long time since my last meal (that was the hardest part, cutting food while cutting working out). But the stupid little things in daily life that are usually just annoying pissed me off progressively more and more.
Week 1: still training
Week 2: Hollering at traffic.
Week 3, first half: Head out of window hollering at traffic.
Week 3, second half: Nearly ripped gf’s head off when she took a water bottle I had labeled.
Just what I need… to think I’m getting even more fat! That will definitely not help my PI…
Jodi
I thought this was going to be about Public Intoxication… probably not smart.
Jodi
I’m totally looking forward to your RR and your slowtwitch updates once your taper starts…you make me laugh Your adventure has been inspiring…heck you might even convince me to sign up for an IM…expect the part about being/feeling fat all the time you make it sound like so much fun 
Erika
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The last 4-5 days of a taper are great. You get a bounce in your step which wasn’t there before.
That’s hilarious! The two things that stand out about my taper for IMC last august: 1) yelling at traffic on my way home because I was in a rush to get to the couch. 2) one week out from the race doing a 40k ride followed by a 40min run, my legs actually listened to what my brain was asking them to do.
1) yelling at traffic on my way home because I was in a rush to get to the couch.
LOL!
I don’t think my PI varies too much…
Just remember when I say that I am hungry…I want to eat NOW! No I don’t want to wait for you to put your bike together…no I don’t want to call so and so to see if they want to meet us…no I don’t know if they have vegan food…
Although my annual two week divorce is scheduled to begin on the 11th.
I’m always pissed off about something, so taper is nothing unusual.
FWIW, I’m following a prescribed taper plan that is much more structured than the DITY plan I used for FL 2005. Training frequency remains high, albeit shorter sessions, so not a lot of idle time to sit around and get more pissy.
Week 3 (now) - **PI Index - 6/10 - **Mostly due to some big projects at work I need to wrap up before I take 2 weeks off.
Week 2 - **PI Index - 8/10 **(expected). Again, work related crap + some final gear prep.
Week 1 (Race week)
**-- Travel Day PI Index - 10/10 **. The airline industry ! Nuff’ said.
– Remainder of week PI Index - 2/10. I’ll be on the ground on 6/20. As long as my bike makes it without damage, I’m GTG.
The thing I enjoyed most about my taper came at the end of the three weeks when I noticed my legs no longer burned after walking up stairs. Six months of hard ironman training and I’d just gotten used to the feeling of fried legs. It was great to finally feel fresh.
You mean, the burning leg thing isn’t normal???
I was just thinking today how pathetic it is that I can’t climb the stairs in the parking garage without wanting to sit down because my legs are on fire.
Jodi