The stages of the Taper

Stage 1 – Exhaustion: there is nothing like reaching taper time. You have worked and built for months. Your entire being has been worked to the breaking point and usually beyond. You almost look forward to the taper with this sense of longing when it is a ways off. Once you get there your body just wants to collapse. You are not sure if you will even be awake come race day.

Stage 2 – Pain: You have moved past exhaustion and now your body is starting to understand that the workouts have become less and maybe you will not be putting yourself through the same punishment in the future. Your fight or flight muscles start to relax just a little bit and everything hurts. Places you long ago stopped feeling are screaming at you. You begin to wonder if you can even make it to the start line. You begin to check the weather, if the forecast is good you don't believe it.. You view anyone remotely sick as someone to be avoided at all costs yet expect to catch every disease known to man before race day.

Stage 3 – Awkward: You are no longer screaming out in pain but your body still doesn't feel right. Workouts are sluggish and uncoordinated. You feel famished but are afraid to eat anything because you will put on the 5 pounds you worked the last 5 months to take off. You find yourself standing in a room wondering what you are supposed to do. You start semi limping even though you don't have to. You have a vague feeling that you really should be working out more then you are and start to think, maybe I should ride 50 miles tomorrow to make sure I still can. You check the weather often and are convinced it will be worse then forecast. At this point you are pretty sure you will be able to race but certain it will be ugly.

Stage 4 - Nervous and jerky: You are starting to feel better and stating to go faster in your workouts. You have more energy then you know what to do with but are nervous that you will use it all up before race day. You start listening to faster and louder music. You are inclined to race anything you see. You start to believe you can do anything. Your co-workers are ready to kill you. You are starting to think you might be able to actually do ok on race day you are constantly checking the weather and no matter what it is don't trust it. However, are afraid to speak of the race in fear you might jinx it.

Stage 5 – Calm: Hopefully this comes a day before the race. You feel strong; know what you can do and now just need to execute. The exhaustion and pain are gone. The awkwardness from earlier is also gone. The nervousness that you feel now is different it is more about anticipation and excitement. The hay is in the barn. It is time to do those same rituals you do. Eat the same thing. Wear the special socks or lucky shirt. You are ready to go but in no rush to get there. You can visualize your race and know it is too late to change anything now. You are beyond wondering how the race will unfold you will know soon enough.