irritable / emotional after big training

jimmy augustine

after two back to back big days getting ready for IMFL I have noticed that I am an emotional wreck. Irritable and moody. It has happened before after big training efforts and I am convinced that the two are related.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so how do you handle it? Train through it? Take an easy day / rest day?

Al Truscott

For me, that's one of the signs of teetering on the edge of overtraining. Again, for me, it's often accompanied by difficulty sleeping, needing more sleep, losing weight, feeling of deep fatigue, and a really low or rapidly dropping Training Stress Balance (TSB on the TrainingPeaks Performance Management Chart). It's kind of to be expected as the volume ramps up at this point in an Ironman® training cycle.

When I notice it, I will usually try to take the next day real easy, say a day off, of just a session in the weight room. Also, focus on hydration and eating well. That usually does the trick and gets me back on track. BUT, I notice those days off are the hardest days of all, in terms of psychological well-being - the feeling of guilt about not working out is almost overwhelming, even though I know it is good for me.

jimmy augustine

thx al. I have noticed the sleep issues as well. And tsb this morning was -41.9...

standing down today and tinkering with cars in the garage.

Scott Giljum

Agree with Al (not a surprise there), but as I dig in for the IM build, I start to become more difficult to be around and interact with. Realizing it is the first step, then doing some mitigation to fix. For me, I usually try to step back and take a deep breath basically. Then I try to get as much extra sleep as I can as I know it makes the biggest difference for me. If that doesn't work, a day off is needed because it does mean I have overtrained and need to back it down temporarily.

Mark Maurer

I hope you're enjoying tinkering today. It sounds like the right thing to do. 

jimmy augustine

thx all. It was the right call for sure. Put a new steering wheel on my R8, went to late breakfast with my dad and took my youngest to Ifly. Good times. By the afternoon I felt the desire to train but decided to stay home and start back up tomorrow. With today's full rest and tomorrow's swim my TSB should be back up to -20 or so which is a safer place for me to hang out.