Half Marathon Taper: It’s Not Just Less Running

Tread Lightly Running Podcast

Mar 28, 2026•38 min•Ep. 161

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Episode description

The taper is not solely reserved for the marathon. When you are racing a half marathon as your goal race, a gradual and deliberate taper will prepare you to run your strongest, fastest race. In this episode, we discuss how to taper for a half marathon, including common taper mistakes and more.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Common taper mistakes to avoid

✅ The physiological benefits of a taper

✅ How to structure a half marathon taper

✅ When to stop lifting weights before a half marathon

✅ How much you should run the week of a half marathon

✅ Should you carb load before a half?

✅ What to do if you have aches and pains on race week

✅ Should you do a shakeout run before your race?

References:

🔬 PMID: 34651125

🔬PMID: 17762369

Tread Lightly Running is hosted and researched by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Production, show notes, and graphics by Laura Norris.

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