Exhausted in Minneapolis

brianrobkelly@hotmail.com

 Hi,

I did the Jan OS advanced program for 3 months, immediately dropped into the HIM advanced 4/1/12 for a June 9 HIM.  Key races are IMWI and IMAZ. I did IMWI and IMFL last year.   All has been going well.  Biking FTP increased to 279 from 263, vdot is around 51. weight is holding sort of steady..around 150 and thinking i am eating well.  no injuries, feeling real good about everything until last week or so.  I have been exhausted this week.  I use that term carefully, as I that is not a term I use to describe how I ever really feel.  I noticed about week ago a change in my breathing patterns..more labored at times.  legs are trashed all week.  tried to do a Trainer Road ride this a.m. (Williamson) which is a V02 max ride but I have done it before and enjoyed it.  lasted only 1/2 of the ride, then was planning to do 3 miles run..got out the door, took about 100 steps and stopped..i was just beat.  I have never been a good sleeper, but now seem to be waking up 4 times a night..no wonder i am tired...common sense over the years has taught me that a day of rest heals all.  I have tried to rest this week, but still am exhausted. Work, family life, etc..are fine. Any ideas on how to come back to the land of the active?

Thanks

Brian

Paul Scholz

 @ Brian -- as many of the folks in this age bracket will tell you and I expereiced last year. At some point in time, particularly if pushing hard, you are going to need to stand down. I would suggest you stand all the way down for 2 days (now working out at all), and then 2 days of just doing the time, but not the intensity, then the next day try pushing the pace a bit on the bike, if you feel flat then take that day off too.

chances are that a week of "downish-time" will help you re-set and you will NOT lose the fitness that you have gained.

good luck!

Bruce Thompson

@ Brain - 2x what Paul said.  Sounds like you are in great shape but have had a long period of high level training with 2 IMs and a strong OS.  You have earned yourself some rest and sleep.  Just get complete rest for a few days and then take it easy for a few more.  And get your mind off triathlon - read a novel, go see a movie, visit a comedy club.  Hopefully, you'll be feeling much better in a week or so.  If not, then you may want to get some medical advice.

Peter Greagg

Like Paul and Bruce, I strongly suggest you rest hard.
It is difficult to remember sometimes that it is the recovery after the work that results in your body rebuilding stronger than before — without enough rest to recover, you are just wasting some of your training.
For me, when I start having a lot of broken sleep, this is the sign that overtraining is here and I just need to standdown until I get my hunger back to start training again.

Paul Hough

At Brian ... You are a friggin animal and you are dfinitely exhausted. The interrupted sleep is a symptom as much as it is a cause. Paul hit the nail on the head and with your fitness level you can afford a drastically reduced training week. Do it now before you get injured.

Al Truscott

 Weeks 6-3 prior to an HIM/IM are the most exhausting time, placing us on a knife edge of fatigue and potential over training. Without taking 1-2 weeks off between the OS and the HIM plan, and about to enter that critical training time, you have placed yourself into a risky spot. Don't do anytiing long or hard until you feel more like it and have stopped losing weight and sleep. You can go up to 10 days off without affecting your race day performance, but I suspect it will take only 48-96 hours.

brianrobkelly@hotmail.com

To all the Boomer's,

thanks for all you insight. I appreciate the time you take to respond. sometimes inside you might know what you should do, but sometimes rest comes hard to me. the group consensus of others in your age group is very helpful. Thanks!