🔥 Race week is here! And with it, taper tantrums, heavy legs, and the mental games that can make or break your performance. In this episode, Coach Zoë and TJ share five evidence-based taper strategies to help you arrive fresh, confident, and ready to race.
You’ll learn why cutting volume (not everything) is essential, how to keep just enough intensity to stay sharp, why sticking to your weekly rhythm matters, and how to stay specific without wrecking your quads. Most importantly, we dive deep into the mind game: how mental fatigue can add up to 45 minutes to your ultra, and practical ways to externalize choices, simplify logistics, and beat decision fatigue at aid stations.
🎙️ In this episode:
Taper madness, athlete vs. coach brain
Decision fatigue & the “trash → bottles → food → go” mantra
Why overpacking hurts more than it helps
The five-point taper plan you can actually trust
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Welcome + race-week vibes14:00 – Mental fatigue & decision-making22:00 – Aid station systems that save minutes36:00 – The 5-point taper framework44:00 – Final checklist & taper mindset
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