Should I Still Taper When I Missed 2 Weeks of Running?

PodcastMissed Long RunTaperRunning after illnessPrincess Half Marathon
Written By Ali Marty

Season 3 of Running to the Castle Podcast w/ Dr. Ali Marty

Episode 197 Do I Really Need To Taper for a Half Marathon as a Slow Runner runDisney Races

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali addresses a common dilemma for runDisney participants: whether to continue tapering for a race even after missing significant training time due to illness or "life getting lifey". 

Using a recent post from a Princess Half Marathon trainee as a case study, Dr. Ali explains that the taper is not a reward for completed miles, but a physiological necessity for recovery. 

She breaks down the science behind the 10 to 14-day recovery window required for muscles, tendons, and ligaments to heal from the micro-tearing caused by training intensity. 

Dr. Ali emphasizes that "the hay is in the barn" and attempting to "cram" missed long runs within two weeks of race day is often a detriment rather than a benefit. 

Listeners are encouraged to trust the taper process to ensure they reach the start line feeling fresh, confident, and mobile rather than over-trained and exhausted.

Ali Marty

Hi! I’m Ali. I’ve been in the health and wellness space since graduating with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2012. I worked in the typical outpatient clinic with active men and women with orthopedic injuries (shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, muscle and ligament tears, knee pain, IT Band pain, plantar fasciitis, and hip and knee arthritis until 2018 at which point I started Mobile Physical Therapy in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the past few years I’ve transitioned to helping women running runDisney races after they’ve had an injury and they want to finish strong and enjoy the rest of their runcation.

https://dralipt.com
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