“At first an ordeal and then an accomplishment, the daily run becomes a staple, like bread, or wine, a fine marriage, or air. It is also a free pass to friendship.”
~ Benjamin Cheever, Strides

Monday, January 7, 2013

Would you like some memory loss with your taper?

As a runner, you hear all kinds of fun things about taper madness.  The folks at Runners World call it the taper tantrum.  I kind of like that.  According to them, the tantrum includes phantom pains and panic attacks.
Uh oh.  Mommy's tapering again.
Prior to running a marathon, I always thought taper madness was a myth.  It just sounded like something all the cools kids said because they were training for a marathon.  Last October, for my first marathon, I experienced it for the first time.  For me, taper madness equated to the feeling that anything anyone did was extremely annoying.  In addition, sugar in the form of candy and sweets was the only food group that counted for anything.

As Goofy got closer, I told friends that I dreaded how bad I would be for this taper, being that it was more miles.  Until today, I actually thought I was doing pretty well.  I mean, my child spent several hours in the middle of the night puking Saturday night, and I actually canceled my Sunday run rather than freak out and assume the world was out to get me and ruin my race(s).

I have noticed, though, that I am rather PMSy lately.  My husband bears the worst of it.  He might say something just wrong and I snap a bit in reply.  Many things that normally wouldn't phase me are really rather irritating.
The big thing I have definitely experienced is LOTS of phantom aches and pains.  It actually was freaking me out.  I have told several people that "my feet and legs hurt so much more after two days rest than they did during my 48 mile week!  Should I call the doctor?"   After reading a few blogs and articles mentioning the phantom ache thing though, I feel better.  Apparently it's normal and a sign of your body healing from training stresses or something.  Who knew?

But, today.  Today takes the cake.  Apparently, my taper madness comes with memory loss or something.  At least, that's the story.  I put the dog out to go potty before leaving for my moms group with my kiddo.  When I got home from moms group 3 hours later, I didn't even notice that my kiddo and I weren't experiencing the happy dog greetings when we first got home.  I started making the kiddo her lunch.  As I was putting her plate on the high chair, I noticed the dog standing outside on the back patio by the door.  I may have swore a bit in my head as I realized I had not put her out since coming home.  To top it off? My back door was left unlocked too.  Luckily, I have a lab that can tolerate cold, and today was a much warmer and sunnier day then it's been in a week.  Her coat was slightly cool, but she was completely fine and happy to see me.  It's possible I bribed her with a bone to forget the entire incident.
I knew she had a bone hidden somewhere!
The funnier part?  I'm not excited or nervous yet, and most everyone else I know that is going is.  I think I'm broken.  Or in denial.  Or both.   LOL.  The good sign is that when I talk about it, I do start to get a little flutter of excitement deep in my tummy, you know the one I'm talking about.  The one that says "Let's DO this."

I leave for Florida in 2.5 days.  Let's hope my family survives that long!  LOL!

Have you experienced taper madness?  What types of things did you experience?
Please tell me that I am not alone!

10 comments:

  1. Oh my word... I am so there! This week has been THE WORST. I am moody, emotional, sore, freaked out and pretty much convinced that I will have lost all of my fitness by the time Sunday morning gets here. My arms and legs feel like they are made of lead and I want to kick everyone at work in the shins when they get all excited and tell me "Only x number of days until the marathon!"

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  2. Oh my... I would say you are perfectly normal. I forget stuff like that even when I am not tapering :) This weekend is going yo be fantastic!

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  3. I cannot concentrate so work is feeling extremely difficult right now. All I can think about is the race. I just want it to be here already! I think I'm most worried about getting sick. In 2012 I got sick the night before/morning of the half marathon and it was brutal! I was up half the night coughing and felt like I had an elephant on my chest during the half marathon. I do not want that to happen again!

    Safe travels! Hope to see you there!

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  4. I cant WAIT to here all about your race!! Remember..HAVE FUN!!

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  5. Heyyy, I love your blog!
    What a cute post! CONGRATS on your first marathon last october by the way - I'm hoping to do my first sometime in 2013. Such a huge accomplishment!

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  6. You've been so dedicated in your preparation and put in so many training miles - you're going to ROCK!! Good luck for the final 2.5 days before you leave - can't wait to read all about it! :)

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  7. I've experienced all of the above! I'm prone to double-booking myself anyway, but during the CIM taper it was really bad, especially because I was supposed to be planning the kids' b-day party AND our holiday cookie party at the same time (yep, there were some holes in the planning for those events once the race was over).

    But it will all be worth it when you toe that start line. Um, I mean, THOSE start lines. And especially when you get that crazy Goofy medal.

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  8. SO exciting! Are you all packed? I haven't tapered in a long time, but I remember mostly just feelings of "did I do enough" when I know that I did. Good luck and I can't wait to read all about it!

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  9. I can't believe you talked about being forgetful and no one called you out as pregnant. The internet is disappointing me today.

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  10. Good luck! Race week is the best and worst all at the same time. Best because of sheer excitement and worst because of lack of concentration and taper crazies. Every time I taper I think I'm coming down with a cold or some mysterious injury. It's all in your head :)

    Enjoy!

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