Road to Sydney - Week 8 Recap

By Coach Nic Baxter | NBx Running Coach

Week 8 of my Sydney Marathon training is done. After two peak weeks and the biggest training volume of this entire block, this week marked the shift from building fitness to protecting it. Here's how the first week of tapering felt.

THE PLAN

Taper weeks are a deliberate reduction in volume compared to the previous two peak weeks, roughly a 20-25% cut in total mileage, with the long run scaled back significantly and intensity kept light throughout. The goal this week was simple: let the body begin absorbing months of hard training while keeping the legs moving.

Total mileage for the week: plan said approximately 33 miles. Actual mileage 40 miles.

Easy miles at Loantaka

MONDAY AUGUST 10 — EASING IN

Monday brought an easy track workout followed by PT & upper body strength workout. Average HR 127, max HR 160 — a solid, comfortable effort to open the taper.

TUESDAY AUGUST 11 — ACTIVE REST DAY WITH CLIENT SESSIONS & STRENGTH

Tuesday was a mixture of running with clients and walking, followed by a core strength workout in the evening. A perfect active rest day. Average HR 119, max HR 128 — genuinely easy, exactly what a taper day should feel like.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12 — CLIENT SESSIONS & EASY RUN

Wednesday brought more easy paced miles. Average HR 104, all comfortably controlled efforts split across the day. I ended the day with some pilates and stretching.

THURSDAY AUGUST 13 — TRAILS FOR RECOVERY

Thursday was a nice walk followed by an easy trail run at Jockey Hollow. Average HR 125. This was a lovely, grounding session on the trails, exactly the kind of low-key run that suits a taper week.

Half way through Thursday's trail run

FRIDAY AUGUST 14 — CLIENT SESSIONS & PT

Friday morning brought some easy miles with clients, followed by my second PT session of the week. A light, easy effort day heading into the weekend.

SATURDAY AUGUST 15 — THE REDUCED LONG RUN

Saturday's long run was on the trails, a significant reduction from recent long runs, exactly as a taper should be structured. Average HR 122, with the vast majority of the run spent in genuinely easy heart rate zones. This felt like a different kind of long run entirely, comfortable, controlled and almost restful compared to recent peak week efforts.

SUNDAY AUGUST 16 — CLOSING OUT THE WEEK

Sunday brought a shorter easy run and a walk to finish- a solid close to the first taper week.

WEEK 8 BY THE NUMBERS

Total running miles: approximately 40 miles, a meaningful reduction from the peak weeks Sessions completed: Trail runs, road runs and consistent easy efforts throughout Key session: My long run, notably shorter and easier than recent long efforts Feeling at end of week: Legs a little heavy, mind slightly restless. This is exactly as expected.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK

The heavy legs are real, and they are meant to happen. Despite running significantly less this week, my legs still felt somewhat heavy at times....this is a classic taper sensation. Knowing this is a normal part of the body absorbing training rather than a sign of lost fitness made it much easier to trust the process rather than second-guess it.

Reduced volume does not mean reduced quality. Every session this week still had purpose, even at lower mileage. The trail run on Thursday and the shortened long run on Saturday were still meaningful training stimulus, they were just appropriately scaled back for where I am in the block.

Mental discipline matters as much as physical training during a taper. The temptation to add extra miles because the legs feel capable is real. Sticking to the plan, even when everything in you wants to do more, is its own kind of training discipline.

WHAT'S COMING IN WEEK 9

Week 9 continues the taper with a further reduction in volume as travel & race day approaches. Expect shorter runs, sharper focus on race logistics, and the particular blend of excitement and nervous energy that comes with the final stretch before a marathon.

This is really happening!

If you are training for a fall marathon and want expert guidance through your own taper — I'd love to help.

Book your free 30-minute intro call at nbx-runningcoach.com

Coach Nic Baxter is an RRCA Level 2 Run Coach and ACE-Certified Personal Trainer based in Morristown, NJ. She is currently tapering for the Sydney Marathon on 30th August 2026.