Taper Tantrums

As November approaches many athletes in New York are entering into their marathon running season, specifically the New York City Marathon. In a recent session with a client who is in the midst of their own marathon preparation, they asked, “do you know about taper tantrums?” Having experienced the taper process from my own athletic endeavors, we discussed the emotional complexities that can occur during an often complicated time. What we explored helped to better understand the process of their training and helped to alleviate the anxieties that can occur with the taper process.

Tapering for a race often involves a mental conflict for many athletes. While some may appreciate the reduced training load many athletes have a different experience. Often, the added time away from training may allow for unwanted thoughts and feelings to creep in. Some athletes may start to doubt their preparation, worry about losing fitness, fear the outcome of the race and other intrusive thoughts. The complex experience of having these thoughts whilst simultaneously also trusting in your training can be experienced in a “tantrum” both physically and mentally.

With clients who are tapering, together we discuss their experience through this time to better understand and manage the tricky process. This can look like exploring what is within our control (planning race day outfit, fuel setup, looking over training log, etc.) during this time. Getting into a mindset where we can focus on what is within our control can soothe anxieties and reinforce positive thinking.

It can take practice to handle a taper process, if you’re an athlete looking for guidance with this, or to discuss and explore your feelings for your upcoming marathon, feel free to reach out info@intuitivepsychotherapynyc.com