Tapering question

[greysgirl]

So I'm not following a running plan, just kind of winging it, adding a little distance to each of my long runs. I am training for a half the Sunday of memorial day weekend. I want my last long run to be the full distance just so mentally I can know I can do it. When would you do that last long run? Two weeks out and then taper? I have done a lot of reading, I just want to see what real people say and do. Thanks ladies. 

[Mushe]

I always do 2 weeks out, then 8ish on the weekend before.

[greysgirl]

Thank you, thats exactly what I was hoping to hear!

[patches31709]

Apr 30, 2014 10:51:29 GMT -5 Mushe said:

I always do 2 weeks out, then 8ish on the weekend before.

This is exactly what I do too.

[patches31709]

I only do a one week taper, I've never done two. I do my last long run 2 Sundays before race day, but then that week is regular training runs, with a shorter long run on Sunday (8 miles). That's the beginning of my taper; I do a few shorter runs during the week leading up to the race.

I like the one week with a shorter run because it's a bit of a mental break for me. I know I can do 8 miles easily; once I get to 11 and higher, it's a little tougher mentally, so I like having the week break in there. I did HH Intermediate too, but modified it. This is what my long runs were this past training cycle: 4, 5, 6, 5k, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 8, race

[Mushe]

@mn06 Although I have done my last long run 2 weeks prior, I only tapered the one week before. For my best one, in March, I just did easier short runs later in the week, so not much of a taper.

And yes! I've gone so far as printing out the HH plans, but went with a similar one that has the long run 2 weeks out. I am not good at doing my long run at an easy pace, so I want more time to rest.

[skwcm80]

Apr 30, 2014 12:25:15 GMT -5 @mn06 said:

Mushe , patches31709 and anyone that has played with their training: Out of curiosity, is the long run two weeks before so your body has more time to rest? Do you feel that you raced better tapering two weeks before instead of one?

This is the first time I am following a plan for my half (HH Intermediate) and it has me doing 12 miles the week before. I know I can do the distance but am now wondering if I should change it to 12 miles two weeks before and then 8 the week before so I'm not over-doing myself.

I did 12 hilly, miserable miles the week before my half and I did pretty well. I was nervous about it, but I felt rested enough come race day.