You’ve probably heard the adage “the hay is in the barn” and wondered what the heck hay has to do with being race ready? In a nutshell, it means the hard work of training is done. In the week before your event, plan to log a few short tune-up workouts, prioritize rest and mentally prepare to toe the line. But as tempting as it might be, your taper is not the time to relax on the nutritional front. Here are some key nutritional taper tips to help optimize race-day performance.
Taper Nutrition Basics: A 3 Week Plan
The taper, or reduction in the training load, is a tried-and-true element of triathlon training. Athletes come to expect, look forward to, and/or dread the three-week period prescribed by most coaches. But no matter how good you are at putting your feet up and catching up on the latest Netflix binge, most athletes aren’t as good at understanding and executing a proper nutritional taper.
Let me paint the picture: It’s just three weeks until the big day, and you’re full of confidence. The grueling bike rides, epic swims, and long runs are all in the bag. You’ve found your rhythm, you’re getting extra sleep and your nutrition regimen has kept you healthy and well fueled. Then along comes taper time, allowing your body to fully recover so you can reach your maximum performance on race day. (Although every athlete is different, a well established rule of thumb for the IRONMAN taper is a reduction in training volume of 20 percent each week, beginning three to four weeks out from race day.)