#9 - Athlete Management, Peak Week Pitfalls & Mastering the Taper

We are back in the studio after 3 weeks off the mics! In this episode, Cosi and Foz dive deep into the real core of marathon coaching and preparation: Athlete Management, Peak Weeks, and the Taper. We unpack why managing athlete expectations is just as critical as writing the training program. From handling runners who overcook their peak weeks to unpacking the psychological trap of taper anxiety, we look at what it takes to get an athlete to the start line physically fresh and mentally locked in. What we cover in this episode: • Athlete Management & Expectations: Why alignment between training data and target race pace is essential to avoid race-day failure.• Navigating Peak Week: How to handle peak volume, key workout execution (including Foz's 4x5km benchmark), and avoiding over-training right before the ramp-down.• The "Zoom Out" Taper Lesson: Why Fitness minus Fatigue equals Performance, and why running 100km in race week destroys race-day execution.• Rehab & Training Check-In: Cosi’s half-marathon progress and Foz’s return-to-run milestones. CONNECT WITH US: • Instagram: @therundiariespod• Stream on Spotify & Apple Podcasts If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps us keep growing the show!