If you’re in the final stretch of training for Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, there’s a good chance you’re starting to feel tired, sluggish, maybe even a little anxious. Ironically, this is often when runners start to question everything—Am I losing fitness? Why do my legs feel heavier now than during peak training? Should I squeeze in one more long run?
This is normal. And it’s exactly why tapering exists.
Tapering Isn’t Slowing Down—It’s Strategic Recovery
Tapering refers to the reduction in training volume (and sometimes intensity) before a race, typically over a 1-3 week period. Its goal is simple: allow the body time to recover from the physical stress of training while consolidating fitness gains. But here’s the tricky part—the body doesn’t always feel better right away.
Why You Might Feel Worse Before You Feel Better
During the taper, it’s common to experience what we call “taper fatigue.” Your body is shifting from high mileage and stress to recovery mode, and that transition can bring on heaviness, stiffness and low energy. Here’s why:
- Your muscles are repairing micro-damage and rebuilding stronger tissue.
- Your nervous system is adjusting from constant high-alert training to rest mode.
- Inflammation is decreasing—but that can temporarily feel like tightness or fatigue.
- Your mind, used to constant activity, suddenly has space to overthink.
In short, the fatigue you’re feeling is your body working to rebound and rebuild. It’s not a sign of losing fitness—it’s a sign of absorbing fitness.
Trust the Taper
This is the hardest part for many athletes: doing less, even when you feel like you should be doing more. But the science—and the outcomes—support the taper. Many runners who ignore the taper arrive at race day flat, injured or mentally burned out.
What You Can Do
- Stick to the plan. Don’t add volume or intensity just because you’re uncomfortable with rest.
- Sleep well. This is when the magic happens—your body recovers and resets.
- Hydrate and eat well. Fueling during taper is essential for energy stores.
- Stay positive. Journal, meditate, or reflect on your training. You’ve put in the work.
Tapering might make you feel like you’re going backward—but you’re actually gearing up for a powerful forward leap. The fatigue, the restlessness, the doubt—these are all part of the process. Trust it. Your body knows what to do, and race day is when it all comes together.
You haven’t lost your fitness. You’re about to unleash it.