We had an interesting problem these past two weeks. I wrote “we” even though it was actually my problem. I had someone who shared this problem with me and solved it for me – which is a massive privilege.

The Wednesday after my previous newsletter I had a 10km Easy run on my training calendar. I cannot recall a 10km ever feeling better or easier during the course of this past year than my run that morning. I shared this observation with a running friend who was very happy for me.

The following day I had an 8km Easy run. From the onset of that run, I sensed that something was off. I was running at an easy comfortable pace … nearly twenty seconds per kilometre faster than normal! I wasn’t pushing. I wasn’t trying to run faster. It was simply just happening.

After my run, I shared a screenshot of my pace zones with my coach saying: “I think this morning’s run went very well.”

“That is a good run, it helps to run on ‘fresh legs’ as you had a taper whilst you were sick.”

“Yes, I have also noticed that over the last few days. Feels good.”

“This is generally what you want to happen the ten days before a big race: taper and peak, and your leg speed comes back. However, it’s happening now as we were forced to rest because you were sick. I’m getting you out of the premature taper by increasing your mileage.”

True to her word, when I checked my training calendar it was already updated with new workouts – and more mileage. Sigh.

Peaking felt so good. It felt like I was on top of the world. I hope we stopped it quickly enough and that I will get back there again after my actual taper which is starting this Thursday. I want to get back there as soon as possible!

I also know now that I didn’t peak last year. I cannot recall ever feeling so well-rested and able to run faster without additional effort before last year’s marathon. Even my shake-out run the Saturday before felt like a lot of effort and didn’t go as I wanted it to.

So apparently peaking too soon is a possibility – who knew? I wonder if there are any other life disciplines in which peaking too soon is also possible and how one would go about avoiding it. Perhaps one such situation is when studying and writing exams, but that is all I can think of now.

Do you have any experience with peaking too soon?