Tapering - Hell on Earth
See you in Chamonix. Soon.
With only 4 days left until my first 100 km ultra trail race, the CCC in Chamonix, I currently experience all the buzz, doubts, anticipation and concerns that make tapering the most terrible phase in any race preparation.
While I am dead seriously convinced, that I completely destroyed my thighs in a "lowest effort possible" downhill last Friday, I am simultaneously reminding myself of the huge number of quality workouts and test races I cramped into my 10-weeks preparation time window since being accepted to run the CCC. Over the past few days I have packed, optimized and tested my race vest 4 times, cutting weight and volume to a ridiculous minimum on the brink of being disqualified for missing mandatory gear. I also barely survived a panic attack when I found out that I am missing 2 bags of Maurten 320 drink that I inevitably (!) need to finish the race, because that’s what my meticulous self-made nutrition plan suggest.
After all, I wonder if all the training, equipment and plans will be of any help, when I sit on a stone on the ascent to La Giete hating every single decision I’ve made, that has led me to this moment. On the other hand I feel great confidence, that I will not only be able to finish the CCC (A-Goal) but to truly enjoy the race from the very first to the very last second (B-Goal), like I did at my two preparation races, the Eiger and the Stubai Ultra Trail.
Sharing all these thoughts and emotions is a trap, though. It either sounds like I am trying to preventively find whiny excuses for a possible failure, or it sounds bragging and self-assertive in regards to a "1st timer", that I actually cannot make any reliable predictions about, because… it’s a 1st timer.
But I take the risk of being misunderstood and misinterpreted by a few anti-Zs and stick with my favorite writing style: honest and straight forward. That is because I hope… no, I know a lot of you have similar feelings towards overwhelming and unpredictable (running) projects and know exactly how I feel right now.
"See you in Chamonix"
is the battle cry and I will follow.