12 replies to this topic

[Heids27]

Im training for the HM at Gold Coast so less than 3 weeks out now. I have been doing 1 long run, 1 speed session and 2 shorter runs a week and I have been fine but lately am really struggling with tiredness.

Im not sure why, i eat well (i think) and try to get enough sleep and have always been an active person, prior to starting training for this i was at gym 5 days a week consistently.

I dont know if im putting too much pressure on myself mentally aswell as the physical training?I have been doing probably a harder program than the beginner one i started with as partway through the 20 weeks training i joined a running group and have been doing long run and speed sessions with them which are more full on then what is in the beginner program. I am a person who tends to put alot of pressure on myself and set myself high standards and i dont know if this is contributing to me feeling so worn out. I hate skipping sessions but am missing speedwork today cause i just feel burnt out.

Is anyone else at this point or has been?How did you get past it?

[Mixie]

If u have less than 3 weeks left to Gold Coast half,then sessions missed now will have little bearing on your Gold Coast time although if u do too many sessions u will have a bad race and maybe injure yourself in process.

Its' ok to miss a few days training,in fact, your body will thank u for it during race.

Drop the long run by 30-50% over next couple of weeks and throw a 5k race 1-2 weeks beforehand to get u in top shape for Gold Coast.

As well try and relax,read a book,watch a dvd go for a swim,anything to give u a more relaxed mind.

The less stress u are going into race the better the outcome.

Best of luck on the day.

[Bellthorpe]

Just have a few days off.

[runningcat]

It might body be your body telling you something ... it is normal we feel that way, our mind wants to rn however the body doesnt feel like it.

Listen to your body, take a rest and recharge, do something else then you will miss running .

[maryclaire]

I don't know which program you are following - but as you metnioned that it is more than a beginner's program, then I would assume that you are about at the peak in terms of mileage and intensity before a drop-off in preparation for the race. Therefore, you could well be at about the limit of your current fitness - and the ensuing taper will allow your body to adapt to the training load it has been subjected to. You will no doubt arrive at the race refreshed and ready to go. Good luck!

[Heids27]

maryclaire, on Jun 16 2009, 04:53 PM, said:

I don't know which program you are following - but as you metnioned that it is more than a beginner's program, then I would assume that you are about at the peak in terms of mileage and intensity before a drop-off in preparation for the race. Therefore, you could well be at about the limit of your current fitness - and the ensuing taper will allow your body to adapt to the training load it has been subjected to. You will no doubt arrive at the race refreshed and ready to go. Good luck!

I have been following the beginner program on the GC website but my speed sessions and long run session have been longer( i have run above the hm distance twice in long runs) so yes, perhaps it is just that ive come to the point where i need to taper. The taper though seems to not cut down too much as far as distance goes and there is still speed work in there?So im a little confused but will follow it and do no more then what it says!

I am having today off and will just try and pick it up again tomorrow...went and got a massage this arvo too which has relaxed me a bit.

Thanks for your replies everyone, it has definitely helped. Maybe I just need to learn that taking a couple of days off can actually be a good thing.

[maryclaire]

Heids27, on Jun 16 2009, 06:05 PM, said:

The taper though seems to not cut down too much as far as distance goes and there is still speed work in there?So im a little confused but will follow it and do no more then what it says!

I am no expert but have also wondered the same thing about tapers. It has been explained to me that the taper period will drop total mileage over the week(s) but not necessarily the speed work. There may well be at least 1 or 2 challenging speed sessions in the week leading up to the race in order to "keep the systems open" (as explained to me). I take this to mean that the aerobic/anaerobic pathways need to be kept firing right up to the race. I have explained this very badly, i realise, but my point is that there is a purpose to the continued speed work in the taper - just trust the process and you will be fine.

[Mixie]

Heids27, on Jun 16 2009, 05:05 AM, said:

I have been following the beginner program on the GC website but my speed sessions and long run session have been longer( i have run above the hm distance twice in long runs) so yes, perhaps it is just that ive come to the point where i need to taper. The taper though seems to not cut down too much as far as distance goes and there is still speed work in there?So im a little confused but will follow it and do no more then what it says!

I am having today off and will just try and pick it up again tomorrow...went and got a massage this arvo too which has relaxed me a bit.

Thanks for your replies everyone, it has definitely helped. Maybe I just need to learn that taking a couple of days off can actually be a good thing.

If your body is telling u to rest and your programme is saying train,then listen to your body.
Don't worry about missing sessions at this stage of your preperation-most important thing is u arrive at start line fresh.


On getting massage 2day,I would only do very easy jog following day(if at all)-massage can be hard on muscles especially if your not use to it.

As an example of my taper,I will probably run sydney marathon series 30k on Sunday-will take 2morrow/Friday off-run intervals Thursday at planned 30k pace or slower and either Saturday off or easy 4k.
However if I feel tired/sore on Thursday,would skip Thursdays' interval session but would still run 4k Saturday with a few strides

[silverfish]

Heids27, on Jun 16 2009, 02:54 PM, said:

I am a person who tends to put alot of pressure on myself and set myself high standards and i dont know if this is contributing to me feeling so worn out. I hate skipping sessions but am missing speedwork today cause i just feel burnt out.

Is anyone else at this point or has been?How did you get past it?

Heids, this *really* resonates with me. I was training a lot (6 days a week) and my body was crying out for a rest. I was reluctant to stop and then.. I sprained my ankle, which gave me 2 weeks of enforced rest.

Listen to your body. If you are a high achiever like me, or a perfectionist sort of person, I know this advice will be really hard to listen to. However you will end up hurting yourself (like I did!) by constantly pushing yourself beyond your limits. good luck with it

[zandrsmum]

Hi Heidi, for me the mental tiredness is more of an issue than the physical. I train most days, sometimes twice a day and I find the constancy of mentally preparing for each session more taxing than the session itself. It may be the getting up pre dawn or going out when I really want wine and TV or just fitting it in with life and kids! If feel great when I return I continue and if I don't I take rest the next day and make the next session really fun and easy by just choosing a place I love to run and slowing down. I too set high, inflexible standards for myself and really have to work at keeping it all in perspective. Good luck at GC, I am assuming it is your first one so enjoy the experience and give yourself a lot of credit for getting to the start line. You have done the work. K

[Koala1]

Heids - probably can't add much more to whats already been said, i.e. listen to your body and take some time off. I too have been feeling really wiped out and tired lately, the other weekend I just couldn't motivate myself to go out for my long run, which for me is really quite rare. I had absolutely no energy, so just rested instead - didn't even go for a walk and the following week I could feel my energy levels returning a bit.

Good luck with your half - hope you meet your goals

[maryclaire]

how are you going? Are you feeling any better yet? Hopefully you have gotten the benefit of rest and are now back into training and preparing for your upcoming run. Let us know how it's going.

Take care.

[jaspina]

Hi,

I was feeling the same. I seemed to be getting enough sleep and was eating ok, so I started taking iron tablets. A week later and I'm feeling a lot more refreshed and have more energy. A good brand is Fab (won't make you constipated like other iron tablets can). Good luck in the race!