In the last few years, I’ve started to fail the shorter intense sessions as a couple of intermittent rest days reduce my load during a taper week. For example, not being able to do a well fueled 4 x 10 @ FTP when I just completed a 3 x 20 @ 101% a week prior.
This year, I was able to salvage and have a good seven day event by adding a little more load toward the end of the week putting myself on the loaded side of “fresh.” Does anybody else feel like they’re actually stronger in week two or three of a block than after a taper? I’m tempted to just schedule my training so that the race comes at the end of a two week block. I may not be as fresh as I could be, but I know I’ll be pretty darn good.
This year, my target event is a ~2.5hr one-day race, and hitting race day while my body is stubbornly still in recovery mode will be really disappointing. Years ago, I responded really well to a sharper one-week taper, but perhaps I should more closely follow the TR path and do a longer, 2-3 week taper?
Would love to hear some thoughts from people that have experience with this effect.