Training Update
Happy Wednesday!
I just wanted to check in with a quick update to say things are finally settling back to normal. My big races are over and I am looking forward to sharing the Wilderness Traverse adventure race recap on Friday!
Things are great around here but since my accident, nothing has been normal. My muscles were pretty damaged in the collision and then I did two consecutive 24 hour events over the following weekends.
Weekend One
Weekend 2
I would never have done either one if it was the beginning of my season or I was leading up to an A race. These were just challenges that I wanted to do and I was truly pushing my body to the limit with both. Because I didn’t give my muscles time to heal, I have some pretty aggressive IT band complaining going on which is to be expected. I am going 2-3 times a week to physiotherapy and trying to get back to eating right and sleeping enough. I have taken about a month long hiatus from proper self care with lots of off season fun, I have been dealing with a crushing work load at my job and have had too little training and recovery.
Dancing up a storm at a wedding with my gorgeous sisters last weekend.
The result? I have lost a lot of weight in muscle mass, I had a cold that lasted about 3 weeks and I felt completely depleted. I knew I was pushing my body to the limit but it is frustrating and alarming to not have the regular vitality and strength I am used to.
For that reason, my coach and I decided to take me off a formal training plan for the moment and just allow me to exercise based on feel. For Thanksgiving day, I went on a 10 KM hike and just enjoyed the gorgeous Canadian fall weather. I have added some more strength work back in my routine to gain back some muscle mass.
The main take away from this past fall for me is that when something happens to derail your training, to completely adjust your expectations. I have a number of fun races this fall, but all of them are well within my training capabilities and all have zero pressure attached to them.
My next race is Scotiabank half marathon this weekend where I will be pacing some of my friends. I have ran the full before but this is my first time running the half.
I have enjoyed a mini off season but I am looking forward to adding some training back into my life for maintenance.
Do you take an off-season?
What is your next race?
Glad to see you are finally taking some time to rest and recover! I’m supposed to be running STWM full, but am dropping to the half. My training hasn’t been great, and I have no where near enough to run a marathon. I could get through it, but it would be a sufferfest, and for what reason?
I think Rest and Recovery is what you need!! So I am glad you are taking some time to practice self-care!! Xox
I do take breaks, if my body is not feeling right I immediately stop. I have a race on November 18, 2015. It is a trail run and I am really excited about it. I hope you get rest and heal
bakingrunner.blogspot.com
Yay for rest time! I take an offseason, but that wasn’t the case 2 years ago when I just continued to drive myself on and on in training. I think doing triathlons has definitely made me a lot smarter when it comes to periodization. And YAY for dancing with the sisters! You guys look gorgeous and I hope you and the rest of the Kuepfer clan had a lovely Thanksgiving!