The Taper... Wait, you want me to slow down?

So you spend months running miles, eating like a horse and have become the most anit-social person in the world. You get up at 5 am on a Sunday, run for hours and come home, eat, sleep and repeat. When your not running, your thinking about running. Then you take your last long run and your supposed to scale back. This is known as the taper, everyone runner's worst nightmare. It seems like it would be a dream; run less and eat like crazy. Trust me it's comparable to a dentist visit. It's a total mind f*%k! For most runners it's the most relaxing part of your day is the run. Now they tell you to scale back the miles. Runners are also aware of their weight and how that affects their speed, now still eat but run less? How does that not affect your brain. I would like to keep somewhat of a girly figure!  Runner's have all sorts of hang ups and the taper brings out the worst in an otherwise relaxed group. Take away our runner's high and we are a little (or a lot) cranky.
I'm always on edge during the taper. I'm a lot bit cranky and a little bit emotional. It's tough because A- I'm running less which is scary and you worry about your fitness and B- It means the race is around the corner. So not only is your stress relief slowly taken away but your getting nervous for the race itself. I've always dealt with the nerves of running with well, running. During the taper you can start to catch up on things like homework, laundry, clean every surface in your apartment, see a movie (or 12), reconnect with friends and other fun things you have lost in your training. You can also sit and worry, watch every piece of food that enters your mouth and freak out at every Facebook update from your upcoming race! Personally during the taper I slowly go into insanity. After your 20, your next is a half marathon (13.1). Many of us try to find a race to get our mind off the impending doom of a full. I'm running the Boston Athletic Association 1/2 this Sunday. A paper prison number in the early hours is always a way to get your mind off the pre-marathon pooch.
After your half the next is 8 miles. I run over 8 miles daily. Some people don't taper. It may drive me crazy but, it's a proven science even used by the elites. It honestly makes sense when your using your sane brain. Your body needs time to recover after running the 20 to make it all the way to 26.2! Even though my 20 felt amazing, I don't want to screw up my first NYC. I want to go and personally kill it! I will taper, lose my shit and afterwards celebrate and cry (a lot). Then I will start the whole crazy process again for Paris! So posts after this may sound a little cranky or like a crack addict detoxing and I apologize! With only 3 weeks to go (26 days thanks to NYRR Facebook updates!) it's time to lose my shit and get excited!!