Taper week... sucks

[Bluetree]

Race next weekend.

Sitting here, staring at my bike. Been stalled in the 900s for a week now (trying to get to 1000 miles for the calendar year).

Have to watch my calories, as I am not burning much off. No scone today.

Muscles feel weird, tight, because of NOT pushing them.

Getting antsy when working, staring out the window, looking at blue skies.

Feeling like a blob... :(

[mimitabby]

oh you silly, there is nothing remotely on your person that looks like a blob!

can't you go for a long walk at least?

[Bluetree]

I have a few easy runs/rides to do to keep loose. But 30 min. of zone 1/2 is not enough to get rid of the blob-itis. The bike... the beach... the hills... they beckon. :o

[rocknrollgirl]

I always feel weird and crappy during a taper week. Heck sometimes I feel weird and crappy on an easy week.

The great part is when race day comes and your are jumping out of your skin to Go Go Go...I love when that parts happens.

Deep cleansing breaths...out with the weird, in with the taper...ohmmm....

[KSH]

Taper? What the heck is a taper? My coach had me working out all week before my race. HA!

That does suck though... pretty weather and having to not ride!

I know w/my training plan... my coach wants me to RUN on the weekends... and all I want to do is cycle all weekend. That means I have to get my lazy bum up early and run... then go cycle.

Enjoy your taper week though... maybe go to the grocery store? ;)

[Offthegrid]

KSH, how is the coaching going?

[KSH]

KSH, how is the coaching going?

So far... so good.

He's a pretty laid back guy and gives me my training plans weekly ... he doesn't really *ding* me if I don't do something he tells me to do. I'm so stubborn though, it wouldn't do much if he did.

It's cool because he monitors me via BT... and that is how he knows what I did, and didn't do. Sure, he'll make comments, but nothing serious.

The training plans are good for me, because it keeps me on a schedule... and honest. Before, it was so easy for me to let a day slide here and there... and to skip running my miles... but now I know what I have to accomplish each week and I try to do it to the best of my ability.

I also know that if I keep doing what has been given to me, I will be able to finish an Oly and HIM. Sure, my performance hasn't improved much per say... but what is holding me back these days is a side cramp that I can't seem to get rid of.

Yea... you probably got more of an answer than you wanted!

I hope your training is going well. I miss keeping up with ya on BT... that sucks the job blocked the site. I hope things are going well with your new man!

[Wahine]

Race next weekend.

Sitting here, staring at my bike. Been stalled in the 900s for a week now (trying to get to 1000 miles for the calendar year).

Have to watch my calories, as I am not burning much off. No scone today.

Muscles feel weird, tight, because of NOT pushing them.

Getting antsy when working, staring out the window, looking at blue skies.

Feeling like a blob... :(

Blue - when you do your easy workouts do short (15 to 30 sec) sprints with at least 2 min rest between. Max 10 reps. It isn't enough stress to require greater recovery but it's enough to get rid of some of the yucky, heavy feelings.

[Offthegrid]

The training plans are good for me, because it keeps me on a schedule... and honest. Before, it was so easy for me to let a day slide here and there... and to skip running my miles... but now I know what I have to accomplish each week and I try to do it to the best of my ability.

This sounds really great! I'm really interested in how that works, and no, that's definitely not more of an answer than I wanted. :)

That sounds great that he keeps track of you on BT. I know it would be nice to not have to think about my workouts as much and figuring out how to work it all in. And I would think it would help force you to take it easy during rest weeks and push it during other weeks. I know I have a tendency to just do the same thing all the time.

I plan to look into coaching at the end of this year or early next year -- after I lose more weight and am able to run farther.


I hope your training is going well. I miss keeping up with ya on BT... that sucks the job blocked the site. I hope things are going well with your new man!

The training is going better. I got into a real funk because of the cold and snow, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. What has been the worst is that the dome over my gym's pool collapsed in mid-February, and they've finally gotten the new dome ($30,000) and it's going up today and then the pool will take 3-4 days to fill.

My company is supposedly going to unblock the sports-related sites in April. I'm just so glad I can still read TE during my downtime (although I can't SHOP on TE because that's blocked. Go figure).

[Bluetree]

Blue - when you do your easy workouts do short (15 to 30 sec) sprints with at least 2 min rest between. Max 10 reps. It isn't enough stress to require greater recovery but it's enough to get rid of some of the yucky, heavy feelings.

Yoda, thanks it helped. I had a 15 min run+30 min bike scheduled today at an *easy* pace, but I threw in a few fartleks to spice it up. Really felt the legs respond and hit 25mph on a windless morning. I feel much better now! :D

Weird though, I don't know why I get all body ache-y and tired when I DON'T train. I would think the opposite happens. :confused:

[KSH]

That sounds great that he keeps track of you on BT. I know it would be nice to not have to think about my workouts as much and figuring out how to work it all in. And I would think it would help force you to take it easy during rest weeks and push it during other weeks. I know I have a tendency to just do the same thing all the time.

I plan to look into coaching at the end of this year or early next year -- after I lose more weight and am able to run farther.



Suzie... I would suggest you using my coach... as he does a personalized training plan weekly and you can call/contact whenever you want... for only $85 a month. Very cheap compared to other coaching places.

Although, he does NOT believe in rest days. He considers swimmig a rest day. I asked for a rest day... and he just doubles up my running and swimming on one day. :o

I'll be interested to see if I even get a taper before my Oly.

[rocknrollgirl]

Blue,
I read an article in Runner's World last fall during marathon season titled The Art of The Taper.
In that article they said that bascially your body goes on a huge mend during the taper and it can get aches and pains, and that often times it freaks people out.

It was really interesting. I will see if I can find it online and post the link...be back.....

[rocknrollgirl]

http://find.runnersworld.com/vignette/rw/searchresult.jsp?cm_re=HP-_-Search-_-Search


This page has links to some of the articles.....

[Bluetree]

Thanks RnR, The article "Taper Traps" mentions a lot of the issues I'm having. Helps to know I'm not a freak :D


Taper? What the heck is a taper?

[Offthegrid]

Although, he does NOT believe in rest days. He considers swimmig a rest day.

I thought for you swimming was rest. :D ;) :D ;)

[KSH]

Bluetree... I LOVE the picture of that... animal beastly thing. :p

Suzie... swimming is a rest day for me. ;)

Seriously though, for me, it's all about having a day where I don't pack workout gear, get sweaty, etc. I am suppose to swim Fri in the AM... but I'm skipping. I have to train (I'm a software trainer/Training Supervisor for an EDI company) people for 6 solid hours and it takes a lot out of me. Work comes first.

[Wahine]

Experienced triathletes actually recover faster with a Z1 workout than with a complete day off. As long as what we are talking about is recovering from training, (not illness or injury). So a lot of programs don't schedule days off every week. On my "On" weeks, my easiest day consists of a Z2 30 min ride and a Z1 swim for 30 min. On my rest weeks, I take one whole day off. Yippeeeee.

Having said that, life has a way of interfering with training plans and I often have to take a day off to catch up with other things. So I'd guess that I average 2.5 days off per month.

Triathletes with less experience recover more quickly with days of complete rest.

Edited to add: Thanks for the link RnR. Very interesting.

[rocknrollgirl]

Oh and don't forget the old....elderly triathletes get to have complete days off too...ha ha ha.....

[Bluetree]

Bluetree... I LOVE the picture of that... animal beastly thing. :p


Karen, that's a Taper! er... Tapir. Close enuff.

:rolleyes:

[spokewench]

Suzie... I would suggest you using my coach... as he does a personalized training plan weekly and you can call/contact whenever you want... for only $85 a month. Very cheap compared to other coaching places.

Although, he does NOT believe in rest days. He considers swimmig a rest day. I asked for a rest day... and he just doubles up my running and swimming on one day. :o

I'll be interested to see if I even get a taper before my Oly.

Your Coach would kill me! I've never been the type to not have rest days. I just have never recovered that well even when I was younger. Now, that I'm older, I really need rest days. Be careful if you feel like you are burning out KSH, cause you could really feel overtrained if you don't rest. Every good coach will tell you that you tear down (tear muscle) when you train and then when you rest it heals and you recover stronger. Please listen to your body as well as your coach.:)

[KSH]

Your Coach would kill me! I've never been the type to not have rest days. I just have never recovered that well even when I was younger. Now, that I'm older, I really need rest days. Be careful if you feel like you are burning out KSH, cause you could really feel overtrained if you don't rest. Every good coach will tell you that you tear down (tear muscle) when you train and then when you rest it heals and you recover stronger. Please listen to your body as well as your coach.:)

Well... who said I listen to him ALL the time? ;)

I typically end up with 1 rest day a week or more... depending on what kind of week it has been... and if I skipped swimming. :D

[Wahine]

Good luck this weekend Blue!!!

[KSH]

Good luck this weekend Blue!!!

AAAAHHHHH!!! She has her race this weekend. I can't wait to read the race report!

[Wahine]

That's how I read it, but I could be wrong. However, I highly doubt that Blue could tolerate a 2 week taper into a race. She'd likely go crazy.:D :D