I am in a very negative space this week. I’m going to just type whatever comes to mind right now – to get it off my chest. I usually try to keep my blog posts upbeat and positive, so if you’ve come here looking for that, you might want to click your back button. Go ahead, click it right now.
I felt on top of the world after doing that 23 mile run. I was so happy to finish that run so strong and without injury. I felt sore the next day, but not too bad. So, I did that freaking cold swim at the lake. Usually, swimming is practically a recovery workout for me. But the cold drained me even further. Wednesday I did a bike ride. Didn’t go so well. Thursday I ran. Crapforcrap. Today I swam at the pool. Total suckage. I wasn’t getting the paces I wanted, and I didn’t have the mental stuff to do anything about it. I think I peaked at that 23 mile run, and now I am spent up, both mentally and physically.
I haven’t slept well all week. I feel really crabby. Might be PMS. But at my age, I never really am sure about that. Fun. Not. (Sorry if that’s TMI, but you could have clicked your back button up there in the first paragraph!)
I’ve been eating too much, especially given my reduced training. It’s really hard going from 3500 calories a day to 1500. I’ve probably gained 5 lbs this week, tho I don’t have the balls to step on the scale to verify. It’s so easy for me to gain 5 lbs. And it’s so $%^&*(;?#^%$+ hard to lose it again. Not fair!
I’m really worried about the coldness of that swim and how much it will drain me. And the coldness of the bike and how much that will drain me. All day long, things – expected and unexpected – will be draining my tank on race day. I am really questioning whether I have the physical and mental stuff to put out a solid effort on race day. I am now feeling that my goal of a 12 hour Ironman looks pretty ridiculous.
I was stoked last weekend after my fun beach adventure and my successful 23 mile run. Now I am totally down in the dumps and feeling negative. And my training is really ‘off’.
Is this a normal part of Ironman…emotional highs and lows? This feeling of being completely drained?
I feel so burned out and have absolutely no desire to train.
I’m going to go take a Benedryl and try to get a good nights sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
Update next morning: Did not sleep well despite the Benedryl. Definitely PMSing 🙁 And I think I am sick with a cold or cough or something. I have a frog in my throat and a sinus headache and aches and pains that just don’t make sense, workoutwise. Just alot of things combining to make me feel really crappy. I’m sure this will pass. Who knows, maybe it will force me to take it easy during my taper. Silver lining. Urg, has it been three hours yet since I took that sinus medicine?
Update next afternoon: My friend Rebecca sent me a link to a really great article about tapering…it talks about a ‘recovery fog’ which sounds exactly like what I am going through. Thank you, Rebecca! To view the article, go to this page: http://www.martygaal.com/words.html …then scroll down and then click the link that says “Ironman Preparation: 3 weeks to go – October 2003“. I am printing that out and taping it above my computer screen right now!
I signed up for the City of Oaks 1/2 Marathon which takes place on Nov…
I have been neglecting this blog for a very long time. Since doing an…
#OptOutside: REI Co-op to close all stores again on Black Friday and Thanksgiving; CEO calls on…
On this page: New Activewear Clothing line by Performance Bicycle Women's Trill Sport Sleeveless Jersey…
Hurricane ISO 2 Combines All Of Saucony’s Technologies to Create A “Ride That Is Comfy,…
Saucony recently sent me a pair of the HURRICANE ISO 2 WITH EVERUN™ running shoes to…
View Comments
I found your blog this week as I am a fellow 40 something and a prior sprint triathlon'r who for the past 20 years chose the couch as well. So, I understand that you are in a tough place right now. But, man am I envious that you are were you are. I am just trying to get back to a 5k at a decent pace and bike a bit on the side. Plus, I have twenty pounds to lose.
Maybe, you need to start having fun doing tri's again like when you first started. You sound like to are going to a job to train instead of training to release and relax.
Lots of seriousness- adults need to learn how to "play" again!
I am rootin' for ya- have a blast!
Tracy
Hi Carol: I recommend a full body massage.If possible "Raindrop Therapy" Breaks up all the toxins and opens meridians and neuro-pathways. You will feel renewed and limber. You are gonna do great!
Yep - sounds like IM taper to me! I get sick, I get crabby (my husband asked today why I've been so bitchy the last 3 days - uh, hello - 2 weeks till race day?!?!) Your training has been incredible - I read your logs with training envy, just relax, eat and drink up - next week the energy returns and you will feel invinceable!!
Hope you are feeling better. and ditto to all of this ^^
Perfectly normal for this point in your training. Roll with it and don't stress over it. This is a "Feeling Down" point according to Paula Newby Frasier at this point of your training. You'll bounce back with the taper.
Carol - take some time to look back instead of forward - just a brief time - and truly consider all of the ground you have covered. Give yourself credit for the incredible progress you have made. Write down specific achievements if need be but do it! Commit to running your OWN race, each day. You are a rock star, you just need a little reminder.
I totally agree with your friend Sonja that you have entered the phase of overreaching with your training, which is actually perfect timing since you are in the taper. At this point, just relax and don't push any of your workouts. What your body is telling you now is that it needs some really deep rest. So sit on your butt and take good care of yourself. At this point, you don't want to sabotage all of the hard work you have done so you need to recover from your killer weekend of training. Also, I bet the sleep thing has to do with overtraining, that would happen to me every time I stepped up the volume. And make sure you fuel your body properly so that it can repair itself. I would even ditch the scale and calorie counting.
Not sure if this will help, but for the last 3 weeks before B2B I only did 1.5hrs/week. I actually felt horrible during this entire time, my legs were trashed, I would get in the pool and only swim 200 because I just couldn't do it anymore. So what you are feeling is so normal.
I've been there. Your only 2 weeks away. If you play your cards right, you'll be strong for the race. Start your taper now. No matter how much more you train you will not get better fitness. I follow MAO and he gives me a two week taper program. Your there, now reduce your mileage and intensity. Good luck.
You have done the work and you are ready for this. I have no idea what you are going through right now but every blog about Ironman I have read has a post like this. You can snap out of this. You are strong. You are capable. You are amazing.
Carole--what goSonja said!! Seriously, do get a hold of a copy of the "The Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training" and spend the next couple of days reading it and taking it to heart. It's an easy read with some very good, very practical strategies for combating the feelings you're experiencing and getting yourself back on track in short order.
You've already got the physical side down, no question. So I'm sending positive mental energy your way to help out. Keep us posted.