Endurance Runners’ Experiences of the Tapering Process: A Theory-Practice Divide?

Abstract

Optimising performance in competitive sport requires navigating complex biological, psychological, and sociological processes, particularly during the taper, the final preparatory phase before major competition. While tapering in endurance running is typically framed as a physiological training load adjustment (Mujika & Padilla, 2003; Ritchie et al., 2017), contemporary perspectives argue for a more integrated understanding of athlete adaptation (McGawley, 2024). This study emerged from practitioner discussions highlighting that physiologically driven recommendations often fail to translate effectively into the realities of international competition. Notably, athletes’ voices remain largely absent from tapering research (Weissensteiner, 2015). We therefore sought to understand athletes lived experiences of tapering and asked: What do we need to do to support coaches and athletes in developing better tapering processes for major competitions? Methods: Following ethical approval, six world class endurance runners were recruited. Semi structured interviews explored athletes’ definitions of tapering, their implementation strategies at major events, and the emotions and challenges experienced during this period. Interview transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019), informed by a critical realist ontology (Bhaskar, 1975; North, 2017; Kirkland & Cowley, 2023). Findings: Athletes’ tapering decisions were predominantly heuristic rather than rational, shaped by accumulated experience, contextual demands, and situational pressures. Contrary to dominant physiological discourse, athletes did not conceptualise or implement tapering primarily as a load management exercise. Instead, decisions were influenced by prior exposure to similar competitive scenarios, the quality of support networks (coaches, peers, family), and logistical constraints such as travel. Crucially, individual stress coping mechanisms played a central role in shaping stress appraisal and decision making throughout the taper. Conclusion: Tapering support must be individualised, recognising the interplay of experiential knowledge, psychosocial influences, and contextual demands. A more holistic, athlete centred approach is required to optimise preparation for major competitions.