Rock Your Spring Marathon with Meb's Tapering Secrets

Rock Your Spring Marathon with Meb's Tapering Secrets! Click here.

Most runners have a hard time backing off as race day approaches. Losing fitness and gaining weight are big concerns, but they shouldn't be. Meb maintains his normal training until about 14 days before the big race, but then he trusts his training and backs off. His last significant workout is a 5- or 6-mile tempo run with a week to go. "Then it's just maintenance," he says. "The point is to get to the start line healthy."

Easy days can still help you improve on race day. Leading up to Boston, Meb did strides on his easy days to help maintain his fast turnover and basic foot speed. Perform three to six 100- to 150-meter accelerations to get "fast feet" on the big day!

Ever notice how a cup of coffee can cause major GI issues and leave you running for every porta-potty in sight? It affects Meb, too, which is why he takes a caffeine pill instead. He suggests taking half to three-quarters of a caffeine pill about an hour before the start time.

After implementing these training principles (and many more found in Meb for Mortals), you'll want to be prepared if you win your race to go on a 2-week media blitz. Meb advises warding off a cold by staying hydrated, taking vitamin C, and carrying around a bottle of hand sanitizer. Good luck!

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