What is Peaking?

Peaking is the art of arranging training so that an athlete reaches their best possible form precisely when it matters — a major championship, final or race. It combines the accumulated fitness from months of training with a well-judged taper (reducing fatigue while preserving fitness) and psychological readiness. Peaking too early means form fades before the event; peaking too late means arriving with residual fatigue or under-prepared. It is the culminating goal of periodised training, and elite athletes and coaches plan entire seasons around peaking for one or two key competitions. Getting it right can mean the difference between a personal best and underperformance.