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The Taper Tantrum Checklist

Blog

December 01, 2025•2 min read

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Everything you swear is happening… but isn’t.

1. Sudden belief that you’ve forgotten how to run

Pace feels weird? Breathing feels weird? Arms feel weird?
Congratulations — you’re tapering.

2. Phantom pains that appear out of nowhere

Knee twinge? Foot ache? Eyelash cramp?
Yep. Brain ghosts. All normal.

3. Compulsive weather checking

“Is it really going to be 42° with 7 mph wind and 18% humidity at exactly 7:04 AM?”
(You check again 3 minutes later… just in case.)

4. Irrational fear you’re losing all your fitness

Spoiler: You’re not.
You’ve spent months training. Your fitness is NOT leaving in 7 days.

5. Feeling unusually tired… even though you’re running less

Your body isactuallyrecovering.
Your mind? It’s staging a riot.

6. Thinking every sniffle is the end of your race

“Is that a sore throat? Or is my house too dry? Or am I dying?”
Relax. Hydrate. Keep your hands out of your mouth.

7. Googling ‘Is it normal to feel terrible during taper?’

Yes.
Everyone does.
Even elites.

8. Stress-cleaning, stress-eating, or stress-shopping for race gear

Do you need another pair of socks?
Probably not.
Are you buying them anyway?
Absolutely.

9. Overanalyzing every tiny run

“That 3-mile easy run felt awful… should I DNS?”
No.
Your race-day legs are loading… please wait ⏳.

10. The sudden urge to “test your legs” with a hard workout

Stop.
Don’t do it.
Put the watch down. Walk away slowly.

FINAL VERDICT:

If you're checking 3 or more boxes, congratulations — you're officially in a Taper Tantrum.
This means your body is doing EXACTLY what it should before race day.

Your fitness is set.
Your legs are fine.
Your brain is dramatic.

And you're going to crush it!

If you're having some mechanical (or emotional) issues and would like to get some last minute help, click the link below to book a quick phone call with us.

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