Tapering for IMFL and feel right on track with the running + swimming. For some reason, however, my cycling legs are really dead. No soreness, but no strength/power/at all. I have done 2 IMs before this and never felt this dead in the legs so close to the race. Though I have certainly put in more miles than the past, I have also run alot more than in the past and I feel better than ever running. Stranger still, I am significantly stronger cyclist than runner (or swimmer) and usually recover from it much quicker.
I know the only solution now is less rather than more. That said, would it be better at this point to:
A) take the next 5 days off completely from cycling to let my legs rest/regenerate, or
B) do a couple very short + easy spins during the upcoming week.
The weekend before the race I like’d to do a 50 mile ride with some IM pace sections (was doing 230-250 miles a week w/ 100+ mile ride in build period) feeling that I am good to go for the race.
Be very interested/grateful for any advice on the above or any other recipes for bringing cycling legs back to life.
The only thing I’ve ever found that causes the “dead legs” feeling has been either severe lack of protein/vitamins or the need for a deep tissue massage. Take your elbow and press down fairly hard in the middle of your quad…if it hurts in a weird way it could be adhesions or calcification in the muscle. This was my problem about a month ago, and a session with my favorite sports massage lady solved 90% of it.
Funny, I was thinking the same thing the first hour of my ride today. “Damn, no power at all”. Stopped about half way to reload a water bottle and found out my back brake was rubbing on the wheel.
But anyway…agree with the advice regarding massage; also, the whole body will sometimes feel sluggish as you begin to taper and it adjusts to the difference in stress. Not being anywhere near a physiologist but speaking anecdotally, this feeling will pass. Some shorter rides with high rpms can help.
I’m sure the coaches on the forum can chime in with their ideas as well. But I wouldn’t panic too much at this point. And resist the temptation to hammer yourself with a huge workout between now and the 4th—it won’t help at all, and could destroy your day. The body won’t really be able to improve fitness much after the next couple of days, anyway. Enjoy the taper and start working on your mental game.
I would suggest small easy rides rather than complete rest. Basically warm-up and warm-down. I think 4-5 days completely off will make many athletes feel sluggish and lethargic, particularly those that do more training. Don’t be afraid to take 1-2 days completely off per week, and do 1-2 training sessions on the other days. I think the mian thig is to keep the intensity down, even if you start to ‘jump out of your skin’.
You have done all the hard work by now - you can only blow it really. I would do a VERY EASY 40-45 mile ride the weekend before. You don’t want to leave your best performance in training. You risk ‘feeling good and going fast’ the weekend before. Activate the endurance system - don’t tire it out!!