Tapering is to be endured, not enjoyed
"I remember one of the first times being introduced to tapering and I nearly went mad, doing other energetic things instead."
I don’t really like tapering, not even the word; meaning gradually reducing your training load before the big event. For me that means slowing down, doing less of something I love, and having too much time for thinking. Parking things becomes harder. But this important stage must be embraced and so I find ways around it.
I remember one of the first times being introduced to tapering and I nearly went mad, doing other energetic things instead, like helping in the bog (only to top up the tan) and outdoor swimming, because I had time and the energy. However, the sleep becomes less and the food you really want becomes everything you can’t have. It can become a boring, plain and a long few days unless you find ways around it.
This time the tapering will be about enjoying the fine weather, reading, catching up with family, doing all the less energetic things that I enjoy. It’s my dad’s anniversary mass too, the relations will all gather and the oven is on overdrive. I love the busyness of baking for a crew, something to keep my mind occupied, but then thoughts begin to enter. It's like everything I touch, hear or see today reminds me of dad. They plan to shear the sheep – and dad was the chief, the expert. No cuts, no grazes allowed, it had to be done to perfection. The next generation, now having learnt the skills, are up at the craic of dawn in case the elders would be gone without them. All the morning errands are complete, there’s enough food on supply for all and so I’m out before anyone comes back!
Heading for Clonbur, it’s such a beautiful summer’s morning. There’s heat in it. I love the drive, it’s like it calms me. Tea in hand and flicking the stations to find a good lively song, suddenly Midwest is blaring out “We're going out the same way we came in.” Bear with me. I was never at a Big Tom concert but going down home, you could hear this coming in the driveway. My dad was a character, the song is lively, so I smile and sing it loud. The window’s down, summer’s air is in, the volume is up.
I shed a tear. The song has such meaning and delivers such a humble message , about the universal equality of death. That material wealth, fame and status do not matter, because everyone arrives in the world with nothing and leaves this world just the same. Here am I am complaining about tapering, nitpicking at the smaller things, about going to bed early, when none of them matter.
Lights are flashing up ahead, a hold up, cattle on the road, everything slows down. On the roads back here time stops still, the animals rule the boreens and we must wait until they decide to go in. The radio gets turned down, the song ends, the journey changes to what’s up ahead; friendship and a feel-good feeling. I get out to help, put standing in a gap, to turn the cattle in. It reminds me of my childhood, where standing in the gap was a handy job but you could be left in it for a while!
The animals take the bait and head in for fresh pasture, a few words of Gaeilge are exchanged and I head for a nice morning jog out with friends.
Parking in the normal spot, meeting the normal few and heading about my way, my mind wanders to this day week. I won’t be here, I won’t be running the park run, and I definitely won’t be tapering. An adventure awaits, one involving many routes. I am not going to overthink them, just embrace them. One could begin to plan, imagine and overthink things and then the mind begins to wander to negative thoughts. I have the training done, I feel good and I have the support behind me.
I’m at the start, I fly around, a friendly competitive 5k where the pace is upped a little, the body feels good, the mind gets a comfort from escaping the current thoughts, the eyes brighten, the soul heals and I’m ready for the tapering in the running world, the embracing of the racing world, the feeding of the working world. A strength is developed for the mournful world and when the week comes to an end, my energy will be saved, my tears will keep me happy and ‘We're Going Out the Same Way we Came in” will send me on my travels again.
I don’t believe in wasting time or opportunities in life. Cherish the memories, celebrate the moments and embrace the future because we're all going out the same way we came in.
Day one of tapering almost complete and it’s not so bad after all!
