Less Equals More: Tapering for the Dublin Marathon

“Tapering: When running less is actually more. (Yes, this is the part where you get to slow down without feeling guilty!)”

With just three weeks to go until the Dublin Marathon, we’ve made it, folks! Well sort of. After weeks of long runs, strength training, nutrition planning, and and let's be honest, googling "what's the slowest marathon time that doesn’t embarrass my entire family?" it’s time for the final, magical stage of marathon training: tapering.

If you’re new to tapering, congratulations, you’re about to become a master of doing less and calling it "science." Essentially, it’s the period where you reduce your mileage, cut back on intensity, and brace yourself, run less. And the best part? It’s not cheating, it’s how you win without having to, you know, run more. 

Tapering allows your body to recover from the cumulative beating it’s taken so far, so come race day, your legs won’t be begging for mercy by the first water station. The tricky part? Not screwing it up. Let’s break it down.

When to Start Tapering: Reducing Mileage and Intensity

The golden rule: start early enough that you’re fresh for race day but not so early that your couch becomes your new training partner. The sweet spot is 2 to 3 weeks before the big day. Any less, and your legs might still feel like they've been through a cement mixer. Any more, and you'll start to forget what running is, much like how you’ve forgotten the taste of a fry-up after months of "fueling smart".Here’s how to approach it:

Resist the Urge to “Test” Your Fitness

If there’s one thing runners are guilty of during the taper, it’s that nagging urge to just go out and “test” your fitness. You know the thought: “I’ll just do a quick 15-miler to make sure I’m still in good shape”. Let me stop you right there. It’s a trap.

This is the time to trust your training. Testing your fitness too close to race day will only leave you fatigued and risk injury, is about as smart as microwaving a metal fork to see what happens. You’ve already put in the hard work, your fitness isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s in this taper period that your body absorbs all those miles you’ve been logging, meaning that by race day, you’ll be in prime condition. So 

Here’s what to do instead:

Staying Sharp Without Overtraining

Just because you’re running less doesn’t mean you should spend the next two weeks auditioning for "World’s Laziest Human". Here’s how to keep your legs sharp and your mind in the game without overdoing it:

The Mental Taper: Keeping Your Head in the Game

Now comes the real test: not letting your brain convince you that by tapering, you’re somehow sabotaging your race. After weeks (or months) of hard training, it can be tough to dial things back without feeling like you’re slacking off. But rest assured, this is a critical part of the process. Your body needs rest, but your mind needs to stay sharp to you cross the finish line without looking like you’ve been hit by a bus.

Here’s how to handle the mental side of tapering:

Conclusion

And there you have it, the mysterious art of tapering, demystified. The key takeaway? Less is more in the final three weeks leading up to the Dublin Marathon. This is the time to trust the process, keep things light, and resist the urge to “just squeeze in one more long run.” By tapering effectively, you’re giving your body the best chance to arrive on race day feeling fresh, strong, and ready to crush those 26.2 miles.

So, as your mileage drops, remember to enjoy the extra free time. Spend it planning your race-day playlist, visualising your epic finish, or, you know, catching up on all the TV shows you’ve missed while you were out pounding the pavement. You’ve earned it.

Just remember, while you're out there smugly resting, someone’s definitely out running another pointless long run. You’ll see them on race day, they’ll be the ones who forgot to taper properly. You? You’ll be the one cruising past with fresh legs and an air of understated superiority.