Can't sleep during my taper!

Triathlon Forum
1

So I am posting this after only sleeping for two hours. My A race is Sat. and I am concerned about getting the rest I need. I feel like I have a lot of energy from not doing any high intensity or volume workouts this week. Does anybody have any tips for the last couple of nights?

2

I have had similar problems during tapers. I can only suggest a glass of warm milk before bed

3

So I am posting this after only sleeping for two hours. My A race is Sat. and I am concerned about getting the rest I need. I feel like I have a lot of energy from not doing any high intensity or volume workouts this week. Does anybody have any tips for the last couple of nights?

I’m with you. I’m tapering for IM Moo and have slept like shit all week. I’m exhausted and energized at the same time. UGH.

Do some deep breathing / meditation. Anything to take your mind off not sleeping.
Count some sheep…maybe shoot them as they jump over the fence.

They make teas that help relax you too…might help.

4

The week prior to IMLou I was lucky if I was getting 5 hours/night. I was fortunate enough to be able to have a nap for an hour or so each afternoon but whenever I go from high IM-type volume to taper I seem to have so much energy that sleep doesn’t want to come. Just stay relaxed when you’re awake and don’t train much and you’ll be fine.

5

Happens to me too during recovery weeks and the taper before IMLP. Like the other posters said, just try to stay calm and don’t waste extra energy during the day. If your body truly needs the rest, then you will be able to sleep. If it doesn’t, don’t sweat it!

6

I sleep like crap when I am not training hard. I have two pieces of advice:

  1. Magnesium! I went through a 2 week period a number of years ago when i had severe insomnia. I would train hard and be physically exhausted but when i crawled into bed…BAM…my eyes were open and i could not sleep. By week two i was ready to die! After regular blood tests came back normal the doc tested for Magnesium - it was way way below normal. I took SloMag and that night I slept, so now i take Magnesium as part of my vitamin and mineral supplements. Magnesium supplements must be celated because it must pass into your small intestine to be absorbed

  2. Aspirin. On my recovery days i battle to sleep and i find my legs are restless - its like my body is craving activity. I usually have a large glass of water and an aspirin before i go to bed which seems to do the trick.

That’s my 5c worth, I hope it helps because I know how much this sucks…

7

That happens to me too…it’s a bitch but research suggest it doesn’t make much difference to performance, so don’t stress too much.

Try counting your breaths and consciously decreasing your breathing rate.

8

So I am posting this after only sleeping for two hours. My A race is Sat. and I am concerned about getting the rest I need. I feel like I have a lot of energy from not doing any high intensity or volume workouts this week. Does anybody have any tips for the last couple of nights?
Advil PM worked perfectly for me the week leading up, and the night before and after, IMKY… Helped with any swelling and knocked me out!!!

9

I had the same experience and thought something was weird with me. The good news is that I felt fine for the race even with very little sleep.

10

I’ll admit it. I take one Ambien 2 nights before a big race. I don’t need a whole lot of sleep the night before a race.