FUN AND GAMES: THE TAPER!

TAPER

Definition of TAPER

intransitive verb

1

: to become progressively smaller toward one end

2

: to diminish gradually 

Synonyms: abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, decrease, taper off, wane

 

After finishing a 6 hour brick on Saturday (5 hr bike ride and 6 mile run) and a 16 mile run on Sunday, the Taper officially begins.  Our bodies are craving rest and recovery.  I set a record of sleeping in until 6 am on my day off.  Sleep has not been easy to come by with a brain and body amped up on continuous motion.  It is hard to jump off the roller coaster to allow the body time to replenish its energy.   

 

The taper could not have arrived at a better time after the last 16 mile run became a job, another task to complete without the joy of running.  It was just part of the job preparing for the ultimate performance and another workout to check off.  When training starts to lack fun, it is time to recoup and let your mind and body go somewhere else.

Yesterday, we had the perfect place for that to happen.  I hosted a bridal shower for one of our IMITs who is tying the knot after Ironman.  Who trains for an IM 2 weeks before their wedding any way?  My friend who I call THE ROOKIE, does!  And it was a perfect excuse to have a party to celebrate our accomplishments and the upcoming big events.  So we gathered with good friends and food and a few fun bridal shower games.  We served Ironman Perform Punch and had an Aide station/Energy Lab with lots of IM Snacks for starters and everyone brought a dish to share!  We played PIN THE DOT on the I (IM LOGO), the MEMORY GAME with race necessities, and NAME THAT GU where you had to taste different gels and guess the flavor.  We ran out of time for the tire changing and transition relays!  My husband and son even carved out an IM pumpkin!  It was fun just hanging out with the friends that have supported each other for the past year through all the ups and downs.

 

In the middle of the party, I became an aunt again after the birth of my husband's brother and wife's first child.  They had been through their own Ironman for the past 3 days and finally made it to the finish with a beautiful little boy as their finisher medal!

 

REST AND RECOVERY ARE KEY TO A HEALTHY TRIATHLETE AT THE START LINE and DON'T FORGET THAT FUN AND GAMES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART of the PRESCRIPTION!

While we were having a great time at the party, a group of Halloween Bandits struck our cars, decorating them with obscenities on our windshields, eggs and as my son put it "an assortment of foods".  It will take a lot more than that to bring us IMIT down!  Besides, all is good now because we reached the TAPER!