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WWBT do - rest or push through?
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 2012-07-11 6:47 AM |
Pro  4353    Wallingford, PA |  Subject: WWBT do - rest or push through?I'm a little over a month out from my first IM. Training has been going really well for the most part. My logs are a bit spotty, but the last few weeks are accurate. I should be at my peak of training over the next couple of weeks, but I am feeling a lot of fatigue (and resultant lack of motivation) at the moment and wondering if I would be better off to take it easy for a few days and then pick it back up, or just push through until taper begins. I've not been following a specific plan, but have cobbled together my own training plan using other plans as general templates for progressing my training. Up until now I've handled the training load just fine, with minimal fatigue, but am feeling pretty tired the past few days... Is this just normal and to be expected at peak IM training, or would an extra rest day or two now be a good idea so I can hit my last few big training days feeling a little fresher? WWBTD?? |
| 2012-07-11 8:03 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Master 1779  | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? It has always been my personal opinion that if you have to ask if you need rest then you probably need a day off. Fatigue is to be expected with your race a month away. There are days when you just need to do the work. There are also times when you need a break from training just to get your life and head back in the right place. What do you have to gain pushing yourself into exhaustion with your race only a month away? What other key workouts do you have planned? When are you planning to start your taper? What is your taper plan? Edited by Catwoman 2012-07-11 8:04 AM |
| 2012-07-11 8:10 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? When you are Ironman training, you feel tired. It becomes a job to train. That's how it goes. Take a day off if you need to, but try to get back to it after that. Push till your taper starts. EDIT: Looked at your logs. Race is 8-11-12. Less than a month away. Your totals for June: June's totals: Bike: 19h 42m 41s - 233 Mi Run: 13h 41m 23s - 59.3 Mi Swim: 3h 50m - 10000 Yd Walking: 1h 00m KEEP PUSHING TILL TAPER. You need the volume. Edited by KSH 2012-07-11 8:11 AM |
| 2012-07-11 8:14 AM in reply to: #4305287 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Thanks Catwoman - good advice.... Remaining key workouts I would like to get in are 2 more "long" sessions in each discipline in, plus a "long day" race rehearsal. I plan to taper 2.5 weeks, reducing volume but maintaining some intensity. I think I can afford a day off today.... |
| 2012-07-11 8:20 AM in reply to: #4305301 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? KSH - 2012-07-11 9:10 AM When you are Ironman training, you feel tired. It becomes a job to train. That's how it goes. Take a day off if you need to, but try to get back to it after that. Push till your taper starts. EDIT: Looked at your logs. Race is 8-11-12. Less than a month away. Your totals for June: June's totals: Bike: 19h 42m 41s - 233 Mi Run: 13h 41m 23s - 59.3 Mi Swim: 3h 50m - 10000 Yd Walking: 1h 00m KEEP PUSHING TILL TAPER. You need the volume. FYI - those totals don't really accurately reflect my training volume - there are several weeks where I just didn't log, and for some workouts I may log only time or distance, not both. I've maintained 15+ hours/week of training since May, and have been @ 20+ hours the past several weeks. I think my volume is probably okay..... |
| 2012-07-11 8:52 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Expert 1164 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? You are one month out. Giving yourself 1 to 1.5 weeks of a good taper, you have 3 solid weeks left that you can get some final training in. You are supposed to be tired at this point, and motivation is going to be waning (think about it, you have been doing this for months now, its expected to be tired). It doesnt sound like you are injured, just fatigued. Go to work, HTFU and use your taper to get ready. Work your butt off on race day and come 8/12 you can have your rest. I believe in you, do good work and the reward will be worth it! |
| 2012-07-11 9:10 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Master 1989 New Jersey | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Whew!! I read those June totals and was like 'SAY IT ISN'T SO!!" Glad it was simply unlogged miles not included. Well, being that i'm in the same boat as you for IMNYC, I had been feeling beat too. (That's normal in IM training, by the way.) I had an Olympic race on Sunday, but was just using it as a training day. Not by any plan, but it was so hot this weekend that I did zero, nada, nil, zilch on Friday. Saturday - I bagged my planned 2 hr ride and ended up with just a short 20 minute ride to get my bike checked in to transition. Long story short...on Sunday, I felt good. So, my point is...don't be afraid to take a day or two off. Better to be 10% undertrained than 1% overtrained. There's no magic formula. But I'm like you in that I see it as 2 more key long workouts in each discipline. 2 more weeks of training, then start on the 3 week taper. If you need to do it, take an easy week now, then make it more of a 2 week taper. Injuries happen when you're fatigued. Don't get to that point. Your goal is to make it to the starting line injury-free. The biggest lesson I learned from my first Ironman to this one...REST is so vitally important. Actually, this is a great message to myself. I have a few niggling injuries, but have to remember to be smart and not to worry about the mileage totals. Hard to let that go though. |
| 2012-07-11 9:43 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Champion 19812 MA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Training for my first IM, I did to much volume and racing to close together about 7-8 weeks out. I ended up taking 4 or 5 days off. Trained, then did 3 week taper which I felt I lost fitness. You are supposed to feel fatigue now. With fatigue often comes lack of motivation. You know your body best. Easy workouts in zone 1 especially cycling or swimming, helps me recover well. I'd consider lighting the training load for a couple of days. Do you feel better after rest days or easy days? Trust yourself but realize your body is fatigued and may be trying to convince your mind rest is best. |
| 2012-07-11 9:53 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Expert 1159 Charlotte, NC | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Unless you're injured, I say HTFU and finish out the hard work and get to your taper! As has often been said, it's Ironman - it's supposed to be hard. You're supposed to be fatigued at this point in your training. Fighting through the fatigue is not about the physical at this point, but about the mental part of training. What are you going to do when you get fatigued on the run on race day (and you will)? Are you going to stop or are you going to keep pushing through? Sorry if this sounds harsh - I'm a tough love type of guy, particularly with my self, when it comes to training. Best of luck to you. Edited by Patrick E 2012-07-11 9:54 AM |
| 2012-07-11 10:06 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Thanks all for the input. The truth is, it's probably been about 3 weeks since I've taken a complete rest day. There have been some lighter, more recovery oriented days, but no complete rest. I've been working pretty hard, most weeks include 5-6 runs, 4 bikes, and 2-3 swims, and I've handled it all pretty well for the most part. Just giving myself permission to take the day off today has me feeling better  . I think I just need a bit of a mental break as much as anything, and a little breather today will let me push myself that much harder until my taper officially begins.Edited by jsnowash 2012-07-11 10:07 AM |
| 2012-07-11 11:31 AM in reply to: #4305154 |
Master 1779 | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Good choice. Enjoy your well deserved mental health day! Edited by Catwoman 2012-07-11 11:32 AM |
| 2012-07-11 11:58 AM in reply to: #4305410 |
Elite 3658 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? 15step - 2012-07-11 9:52 AM You are one month out. Giving yourself 1 to 1.5 weeks of a good taper, you have 3 solid weeks left that you can get some final training in. You are supposed to be tired at this point, and motivation is going to be waning (think about it, you have been doing this for months now, its expected to be tired). It doesnt sound like you are injured, just fatigued. Go to work, HTFU and use your taper to get ready. Work your butt off on race day and come 8/12 you can have your rest. I believe in you, do good work and the reward will be worth it!
Listen to Daniel. Put your head down and HTFU. These are the weeks that matter. You have built up your body to take this load for the next couple of weeks, so don't crack now. |
| 2012-07-11 12:40 PM in reply to: #4305154 |
Extreme Veteran 416 Raleigh, NC | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Holy crap, if I didn't have 1 complete day off a week I might hurt someone. You deserve a day off! I take one a week for sanity sake and just because I think it makes no sense to over-train a broken down body. Get through the main workouts, get your sleep, eat well and get to the start line healthy. Good luck! |
| 2012-07-12 12:46 PM in reply to: #4305621 |
Expert 1164 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? jsnowash - 2012-07-11 11:06 AM I think I just need a bit of a mental break as much as anything, and a little breather today will let me push myself that much harder until my taper officially begins. Ok, I'll be "that guy" then and ask: what was the point of this posting? Sounds to me like you just wanted validation from some others so that you don't feel bad about taking a day off. Seems like you already had it in mind to do so but wanted others to agree with you first. Not trying to be mean, but you have a month left of training. If you want to do a 3 week taper, which is pretty long in and of itself, you have one solid week of work left. Why rest? This is where it gets tough. Is resting one day going to ruin your IM race day? Of course not, but that one extra day could have been used for a long run to test nutrition out, or a long bike/brick to also test nutrition or pacing strategies. Just a suggestion. |
| 2012-07-12 2:54 PM in reply to: #4308098 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? 15step - 2012-07-12 1:46 PM jsnowash - 2012-07-11 11:06 AM I think I just need a bit of a mental break as much as anything, and a little breather today will let me push myself that much harder until my taper officially begins. Ok, I'll be "that guy" then and ask: what was the point of this posting? Sounds to me like you just wanted validation from some others so that you don't feel bad about taking a day off. Seems like you already had it in mind to do so but wanted others to agree with you first. Not trying to be mean, but you have a month left of training. If you want to do a 3 week taper, which is pretty long in and of itself, you have one solid week of work left. Why rest? This is where it gets tough. Is resting one day going to ruin your IM race day? Of course not, but that one extra day could have been used for a long run to test nutrition out, or a long bike/brick to also test nutrition or pacing strategies. Just a suggestion. Yeah, I probably was looking for validation  I'm at the stage of training where doubt and neurosis are starting to take over, and sometimes we all need a little validation and/or to vent our neurotic worries with people who understand them. FWIW, taking the day off yesterday was the best thing I could have done. Like I said, it had been over 3 weeks since I had a complete rest day - and it was time. I woke up today feeling much fresher, and ready to put my head down and work hard for the next two weeks (I won't be doing a 3 week taper -- too long for me, more like 2-2.5 weeks). I had my best swim in a long time this morning, and a brick planned for later in the day. And don't worry, I have been and will continue to test pacing and nutrition in training and racing - I don't think one day off 4.5 weeks out from my race is going to throw things off THAT much.... |
| 2012-07-12 3:31 PM in reply to: #4305154 |
Expert 1164 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Agreed, and in the end if the rest day was good for you, then go right ahead. The point I was trying to make originally is that at 1 month out, youre supposed to feel mentally and physically drained. That means you have put in the work. Its nothing out of the ordinary, and yes it sucks, but the fact of the matter is that its not quite ready to rest. You have time in a taper to get a pseudo-break and you can really take a vacation once you cross the finish line. Good luck out there. Im assuming IMKY? |
| 2012-07-12 3:39 PM in reply to: #4305154 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? NYC... |
| 2012-07-12 3:41 PM in reply to: #4305154 |
Expert 1164 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? Nice! Push through these last few weeks, the reward will most certainly be worth it |
| 2012-07-14 1:38 PM in reply to: #4306018 |
Member 413 | Subject: RE: WWBT do - rest or push through? jrj0924 - 2012-07-11 12:40 PMHoly crap, if I didn't have 1 complete day off a week I might hurt someone. You deserve a day off! I take one a week for sanity sake and just because I think it makes no sense to over-train a broken down body. Get through the main workouts, get your sleep, eat well and get to the start line healthy. Good luck! GOOD LUCK OP! I was one of those people who was religious about one day a week off also. I remember I did also take 2 days in a row off in the peak (Had to cause of work) and boy did I feel like a million bucks after those two days! I am going to volunteer at IMNYC! |
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