All it takes is all you've got

You're starting your taper 3 1/2 weeks out? Everyone is different, but a lot of people on the blog have found that 3 week tapers are too long and leave them feeling sluggish. I usually do about a 9-10 day taper these days, or 2 weeks at the most if I'm feeling beat up.

i agree with jon. i usually do 8-10 days, but i have found as little as a week is sufficient. i did a 3 week taper for SLC this year and i felt flat. i couldn't find that racing gear and my legs felt heavy. but i also agree that everyone is different. this is just something you need to experiment with i guess. i have tried different taper lengths for nearly every marathon...the most successful ones were done off a shorter taper. i know it's cliche, but just listen to your body. it has better advice than anyone else can give you.

yeah I agree with both Allie and Jon, but really you can taper but do it slower, keep up some mileage and 2 sessions drop the long run to a med run and 2 week in, do the same but drop the amount in the 2 sessions then the 3rd week do some easy running this works for me...... 3 weeks taper when you have done the highest mileage ever is a good idea, but dont taper too much or you will be like allie says sluggish!

And when you run less you tend to tighten up or I do so really use the time to stretch too happy days

ditto to what Jon, Allie, and Sam have said, although there are some exceptions. Here's a nice article that explains tapering well:

http://www.therunzone.com/ntrz/?page_id=15

Wow. Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the advice! I guess I've just been feeling pretty beat up lately after doing more mileage than I've ever done in my life and after that 22 miler on Tuesday my body is telling me to cut back and recover. Paul, I really appreciate that article...very helpful advice. I think I am probably on the fast-twitch end of marathoners. After all, I did begin my running career as a sprinter and used to be able to run a 2:09 800M. So I'm thinking based on the advice in the article that a 3 week taper will probably work for me. I am definitely going to drop the long run and only do a couple more 12-15 milers. But I will also definitely do speed work once or twice a week. I have a 5k race this Saturday night which should be a nice speed session and I'm debating doing a 10 mile race on Labor Day, 12 days out from the marathon, but I'm a little nervous about recovering from that in time for the marathon. Do you guys think 12 days out for an all out 10 miler is too risky?

12 days for 10 miler? The general rule of thumb is 1 day per mile raced, but it can vary by person. I know when I do 1/2 marathons 2 weeks out I don't quite fully recover, but I do with 3 weeks. So you might be ok- if you treat it as a fast tempo (i.e. 90% of race pace), I would say you would be fine. All out- maybe.

For my taper, I usually start 10 days out by just shortening my last big workout (Wed or Thur the week before the race), then cut my long run to 10-12 miles rather than 20, but the rest of the runs are normal. My last week I really cut the mileage and eliminate doubles.

If you're doing a 3 week taper, just make sure some of your runs are still med-high intensity/speed, even if they are shorter. You really want to avoid plodding through 3 weeks of easy runs- keep intensity, reduce mileage.

Everyone is different. It sounds like you are smart in doing what you are doing right now. I am taking a 30% step back reduction now so that I can bounce back and get two good weeks in before I start a taper week. Keeps you fresh without the long taper. Just my two cents.

And it keeps the mileage average up in the cycle in case you decide to chase after St George also.

Hmm. Thanks Jon, I am not sure what I'll do. Maybe I'll just see how I feel and decide closer to the race.

Ashbaker, good thoughts. I am not running St. George but have been considering doing St. Jude in Memphis on December 5th.

If the Marathon is the main goal, id go out real easy on the 10 miler then pick the pace up after 5miles, and do a real hard 5 miles, use it as a fitness test maybe rather than a full race, Ive done this and it gives you so much confidence for your marathon as YOull be flying past loads of people on those last 5 miles hones its well worth doing :)

ON the article posted, I agree with you Nan IM a fast twitch muscle runner, and I do need that extra on long runs for tapering, etc, at 14yrs old I did a 2.16secs for 800ms. I think your taper is a good plan :)