If things are progressing as they should, though, you will gradually come to notice that distances seem shorter. Don't let it get you down. But since you're planning ahead now, you can stretch things out on the calendar to allow for races, and still plan 3 of each Long Thing, with maybe the first of each Long Thing being a bit shorter. You can stick the mini-taper before a race, instead of before a Long Brick if you like, and just go a bit easier on the Long Brick. Don't make up something you missed, on T-2.
Rest is best.
During taper, do something almost every day, but shorter and faster. No runs over 70 minutes in the last 2 weeks, no rides over 2 hours. But add a little snap to it. Eat more protein. I love salmon right out of the can.