Many people have asked me in the last few days if I am ready for the event. Each time my response has been a resounding “no” to which I am greeted with a look or sound of surprise. “But you’ve only got a few days left. If you aren’t ready now you’ll never be ready” I disagree. You see I think that tapering is like making a cake.
Read on to see why…
- First I had to decide which cake to make (Choose the event and enter – The Norseman) in my case it would be a chocolate cake, just in case you are wondering
- Then find a recipe (the requirements of the race – distance, terrain etc) and get the ingredients together (how much training to do for each discipline) and then the cooking instructions (how long to prepare for the race)
- Start to mix the ingredients (start the training – lest call this the general conditioning phase)
- Next put the mixture in the oven at the right temperature (training at the right intensity, volume, frequency – call this the specific conditioning phase) and check regularly to make sure it is actually cooking (keep a training diary & monitor progress with test sets)
- When it’s been in the oven for the right length of time, remove and allow to cool (peaking)
- The the cake is now ready to ice (this is the tapering phase) – This is where I am at now. I’ve almost finished icing the cake but even when that is done I won’t be quite finished
- Just before you eat the cake you have to put the candles on ( travelling to the race, registering, racking etc.) This is what happens on Friday
- Finally, light the candles, blow them out and start eating – I’ll be doing this on Saturday, starting at 5am
I don’t know about you but I’m feeling quite peckish after that? I’ll resist the temptation to eact the cake before Saturday ( do too much training in the taper).
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your cake. I know I’m going to enjoy mine.
For regular updates from the race please visit www.nxtri.com from 6am Saturday 8th August
