Thursday, June 10, 2010

The De-Taper, and more on Peanut Butter and Chocolate

You know all about tapering before a race, so I won't go into the details. You know how to race, so I'll spare you those details as well. But what about after the race?

When you do a race and taper for it, the taper and race are essentials to actually doing the race. That's the whole point!

Its what you do after the race that is optional. There is no necessity to do anything after a race. You can just sit on your butt forever if you want!......and I actually don't mind doing that after the last race of the season.

But! If you are still mid season and there is another important race coming up on the calendar, going all couch-quarterbacking is not an option. So what do you do? How do you go from taper to race to recovery to back to it?

My plan this time is to basically reverse back out the same way I came in on the taper. Aka. The De-Taper. I am just going to do the same workouts, but in the opposite direction to bring me back up to where I was pre-taper. Does that make sense?

I see that on two fronts: Physically and mentally. Of course physically you gotta bring it back up gradually to let your body repair the damage. My body is still a little wrecked, but getting better. But mentally that post race fog still lingers. Even if my body was suddenly cured, I cannot mentally bear going out on a 3+ hour ride this Saturday and down more Gatorade and Chocolate Gu. I need a break! My taste buds need a break! haha! Which I am taking....

So far I have biked an easy easy easy 16 miles on the road bike, hopped into the pool for 30 mins, and ran an easy 5 miler. I even ate McDonalds!

Disclaimer: I actually have nothing against McDonalds. I just don't have one near me or one that is convenient to get to. I loooooooove me a BigMac with a Chocolate Shake. I know, its soooo bad for me, but I haven't eaten (I think) McDonalds in 7 months? So it tasted extra good :) AND! I think I deserved one! hehe

Finally, I want to leave you on a yumminess note. I did a post about my peanut butter chocolate Gu recipe awhile back; it tasted great, but it was a bit unpractical unless you used a Gu flask, which I don't. But! The Peanut Butter & Co now makes these single serve "easy squeeze" peanut butter gels that are just like Gu gels. Both the Gu and Peanut Butter are 32 gram servings of yummy matter.


Me thinks you take a Chocolate Gu and a Peanut Butter Easy Squeeze and eat both @ the same time? Whatcha think? Might be a bit much? 180 calories of Peanut Butter + 100 Calories of Chocolate all @ once? Would just do this on the bike, NOT the run. I think from a pure taste stance, it will be a winner!

14 comments:

  1. The de-taper sounds good as does the gel mix. McDonald's, maybe not so much.

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  2. Just did a similar post last week. People don't take recovery seriously enough sometimes--it's a good thing! I love the peanut butter; worth every calorie!

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  3. De-Taper ... like it! You need to throw that term up on Wiki!

    The McD's pic made my stomach hurt.

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  4. I hope that Mickey D's was before the burger at the Parlour!! Cuz I can't forgive you for eating Mickey D's after the goodness that was that yummy burger and beer!

    I am definitely going to have to try the chocolate GU w/ peanut butter trick. My favorite combo.

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  5. It has been a long time since I had a Big Mac! Yummy!

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  6. I love the de-taper idea! I've always struggled with how to get back to training after a big race when I have to keep training for another one. Your idea makes total sense!

    Yum...chocolate and PB is one of my favorite combos! Why doesn't Gu have this combo already??? Hmmm...maybe I should email them! Ha ha!

    p.s. thanks for the recipe! I can't wait to try it out. :)

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  7. "Yummy Matter" haha - ill need to visit this topic taper race de taper de race in the next few months as I start to get some events rollin!
    -D

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  8. MMMMMMM I loved your GU recipe, this sounds even better. Must try it!! De-taper idea is awesome way to think about it.

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  9. Peanut Butter & Co makes a chocolate-peanut butter (which is a staple in our refrigerator...yum!) I wonder if they make that flavor in the single serve squeeze packs? May be worth checking out.

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  10. Who doesn't like chocolate and peanut butter? You have me sold:)

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  11. Ehhh... I'll just stick to the good ole Reese Peanut Butter cups for my fix!

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  12. Yummers!! I love anything peanut butter and anything chocolate but put them together and that's just pure heaven!

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  13. I love the de-taper idea, you should coin that term. Good luck on your de-taper and the chocolate and peanut butter sounds amazing!

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