Exhausted after a big race effort

As some of you know I finished my first road race on Saturday. And I can say that I pushed really hard. Nutritionally I think I did everything well, pre, during and post. I've been racing triathlon for years so I'm pretty well versed in all that. I went for a ride the next day and tried to take it easy but it was a mountain bike ride with the boys so maybe it wasn't as easy as it should've been.

Anyway, my muscles apart from being fatigued have felt good... no pain at all. But my entire person has been absolutely exhausted since Saturday. It seems like I can't get enough sleep and I'm having trouble motivating myself to work out. When I did manage 2 light swims and one yoga session, also light. These went OK. Then I did a cross country ski this morning and I'm still totally fatigued and flat.

I'm just curious about how long it takes some of you racer ladies to feel better after a really hard race.

I can honestly say that the only other times I have felt this type of total fatigue is after Ironman races, and maybe my first half Ironman. After other triathlons, I've had to rest for longer periods but usually because my musculoskeletal system is too beat up, not because of this type of fatigue.

I'm not really all that concerned. Just curious about what others have experienced. Since bike racing is new for me I really don't know what to expect.

Thanks for any input.

I'm not a racer, but my 200Ks left me exhausted the next day and a double century would really lay me to waste.

Veronica

I have no insight on this, and will not even try, but it reminds me of this thought that comes through my head every year during stage race season:

How do you think the folks on 20-day long stage races like the Tour handle this? Of course they're not pushing their max every day, of course they're extremely trained racing machines. But...

Anyway.

Don't underestimate the mental effort you've thrown into this. I hope you recover quickly!

I know nothing about tris...nor about randonneuring where I hear alot more stories of extreme fatigue after 300 kms., or 500 kms. events.

But just a thought here, I know for myself when I'm experiencing pyschological denial about major issues in life..my body cannot stay awake..it wants to sleep early.

Don't underestimate the major life change impact that you are undergoing right now. (I think you alluded to it a few days ago.) Be fair to yourself.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I'm not a racer, but my 200Ks left me exhausted the next day and a double century would really lay me to waste.

Veronica

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This is how I feel after a long endurance effort. But usually I'm starting to come around after a day or two. I'm now on day 4 of feeling whacked out. I think it's because this race made me spend a lot of time at or above my aerobic threshold. Much higher intensity of effort than what I'm used to. It seems to be a very different type of tired.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

But just a thought here, I know for myself when I'm experiencing pyschological denial about major issues in life..my body cannot stay awake..it wants to sleep early.

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This is also true for me right now. Although I'd have to say there's no denial about the things I'm dealing with at the moment. Having said that, it's part of the reason I want this exhaustion to go away... I have so many "life issues" to deal with right now that my lack of energy is making it very hard for me to get them done.

Grog - I have always wondered the same thing. It is amazing and it is also heavily aided by chemistry for many of the racers I'm afraid.

The more I ride and the more I race, the faster my recovery, but a hard race or training camp will still wipe me out for a bit. I also want to eat everything in the house the next day.

I find, like aicabsolut, that the more I race, the faster I recover (either that, or I'm stubborn and just push through...). But likewise, after a really hard race with a difficult effort, it will take longer to recover. You spent A LOT of time doing the work in this race, and did a lot of climbing. It's probably pretty normal for you to feel this tired.

Oh - and ditto on the wanting to eat anything and everything afterwards...

SheFly

I think any time you push yourself to a new level of something you're body is not used to, it's going to respond with exhaustion. It does seem that with your history of other events, it shouldn't be so severe, but it could also be that your race, in addition to your life events .. is sucking the life out of you more so than it otherwise would.

I would listen to your body and give it the rest it needs as much as possible. Maybe skip some workouts if not all of them for a bit. The better you recover from this race, the better you will do the next.

Congrats on your first race, though. :D

I personally find active recovery to be very important. If I take much time off completely I seem to feel more and more tired and less motivated, so I need to be back on my bike - but *gentle* - zone 1-2 active recovery, no hammering. (and I *do* have at least one day of total rest per week)

As far as stage racing goes. Right about now, at the beginning of the season I usually find the idea of a 2-3 day, 3-4 stage race impossible to fathom. How the heck am I supposed to do that when a 9 mile TT wipes me out so bady :rolleyes:, but seriously once you get back into it and start racing a few doubles on the weekends your body gets used to it again and its not a problem. Even if you feel tired, once you're back on the bike its OK - and everyone else is in the same boat - they all raced the day before too.

I've continued with some light effort activity but I'm taking today off completely and trying to get some extra rest.

Thanks again for all your responses.

I used to be the same way, but now that I've been at it a couple of seasons, they only make me feel like that for a day or two after the reeeeeally tough ones. The more hard training you do, the less likely you are to feel so drained. The best way to get used to it is to give yourself a couple of days rest but then pick back up with normal training even if you don't really feel like it.