Sometimes, before a big event, after a hard training cycle, some people will take 3-7 days off. People will do short runs, at real easy effort. Maybe some stretching. Perhaps a bit of foam-rolling. I think the idea is to let the muscles fully recover before trying to destroy them in a race. I’m down. I agree with the practice. Like rest days, though, it seems it’s not for me. I have too much to do. I still have a full-time job. I have events after the upcoming event. Even more events after those. Every run, race, and event becomes a training run. The training cycle becomes a training spiral. I just hope it spins upward.

The idea of a taper in my mind is for the runner that has one big goal and puts all attention to that. They train specifically for xx/xx/xxxx, “the big day.” There are notes on the training calendar like “final long run.” Elites, that have staff to manage their training. Coaches that make their living off of setting up training plans for runners. Number nerds that love charting out schedules for runs, meals, rests, hydration, cross training, strength training, and recovery… for the stats. The taper is extra important for the first timer. What good is a 6 week couch to 5k plan if week 6 isn’t “rest and recover, get ready for race day!”