Taper Time! Look out.....

I am tapering for a 70.3 distance triathlon that is coming up on Sunday, Sept 9.  The idea of tapering is to slow down workouts and rest to gear up for the big race.  Theoretically, according to my coach, I should be itchy and sluggish this week, then explode with speed on race day.  I don't like to slow down workouts, so I am indeed itchy, twitchy and BITCHY.  I miss my usual adrenaline rush that I have most days.  I admit, I am an adrenaline junkie!  Today's workout was a measly 45 minute run.  I may have fallen asleep at mile 2....not sure.  I was definitely day dreaming at least.

The thing that I need to taper the most after this 3 day holiday weekend is eating.  I am normally extremely careful about the fuel I put into my body.  I eat too carefully, according to my family.  But in training, it goes with the territory.  I did not fuel properly prior to my last race, and was rewarded by a very "bonked" run.

But during these past 2 1/2 days it was like I was on a feeding frenzy.  (I ate sensibly most of the day Saturday until we stopped at Qdoba on our way to the Lake Sat evening).   I ate cookies (yes plural), a humongous burrito, real bearnaise sauce on my filet Sunday night, (I typically do not eat red meat and definitely not red meat with cream sauce!)  I ate bagels and real butter  (usually if I eat bread, it is dry).  I even had an ice cream Oreo Cookie Blizzard (and by the way Oreos, which my daughter pointed out as I was eating the Blizzard, contain....OMG.... lard!!).  Last night I had 2 pieces of my son's pepperoni/sausage/mushroom/extra cheese pizza.  Eek!  I let myself go for two days!  Everyone congratulated me saying "good for you!!  How does REAL food taste?!"  Well, it tasted pretty damn good!

Surprisingly, when I slowly stepped on the scale this morning I had lost 2 pounds.  (Could there be something to this theory I've heard in which you can "cheat" once in awhile to trick your body out of starvation mode?!)  I might actually eat something a real chef prepares and not ask him to omit butter?  Interesting.

This morning I was back to reality.  Back to my egg white omelette, side of blueberries breakfast, salad for lunch, protein bar for an afternoon snack.  Glass after glass of water.  Red Bull (it's my only vice, so don't judge).   Tonight chicken breast and asparagus.  And I feel energized.

Now, if I can get through the rest of this week's taper without killing anyone, I'll be all set!  And, perhaps after the race next Sunday, I'll grab a cheeseburger (of the cow variety) and fries.