Tapering Down

To work where another full day beckons. I meet with 4 new health workers we are employing to facilitate a project with the local Healthy Living Centre (PULSE) to design and promote key health messages to young people. There is overwhelming research to suggest that young people respond to other young people on issues relating to their health pareticularly on issues like sex and drugs and rock and roll. Therefore, 4 new health trainers are being trained as we speak to take on this role. It is an exciting project.

On the marathon front we are in "tapering" mode which basically means that the week before the marathon itself you do little except stretch, eat and save your strength. No training you can do in the last week can imporove preparation or performance but it can certainly damage it if you pull or twist something.

Taking something out of your routine which has been a big part of it leads to something which marathon runners call "taper madness". The fact that you have nothing do to except to count the days down to a big (and gruelling) event leads to some odd behaviour. I learnt this from someone I met running who told me the story of his entry in the New York Marathon. It was a big deal as I believe from what he said that he had a family association with someone who died in the Twin Towers disaster in 9/11. Anyway running the New York marathon was a key date in his calender and he described his experience leading up to the big day. Firstly, he said that he had convinced himself that any twinge or the most minor ache - which most people in their middle years get every day - was, in fact, the onset of a major injury which would prevent him from running. Secondly, he also managed to convince himself that any loved one friend or colleague was in fact the bearer of a cold or virus which he would certainly contract and prevent him from running. He told me that he treated everyone as if they were "typhoid Mary". This reached such manic proportions that he spent virtually the entire flight from Gatwick to NYC with a napkin over his mouth. Strange behaviour indeed. I don't think that I am suffering from any of the extreme symptoms of "taper madness" but if I do exhibit any behaviour this week just ignore me and remember it is all for a good cause. On which note we are up to about £500 sponsorship so far so it is all looking OK for the big day.