Poll: How many of you take the day off before a race?

Triathlon Forum
1

Noticed somebody mentioning they plan on taking the day off before their A race in another thread. I don’t feel normal the day after an off day, in fact I feel “off”, so I’d prefer to take a day off two or three days before a big race. So tell me, do you…

A. Take the day before my race off
B. Take a day off two days before my race
C. Take a day off three days before my race
D. After reading the Souza/Thomas adventures I’m never taking a day off again
E. I don’t race
F. Pacific Islander

2

G. I take 3 days off before a longer race with a light “keep the legs loose but its not enough to call it a workout” spin or run on the second day. Examples would be a 2 mile jog @ 12 min mile, or a 8 mile bike @ 10mph.

3

C: I generally take 2 days off

Dave
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4

My best races(still MOP) are always the ones where I take a day or two off before, have a couple of beers the night before and relax. The only activity I do the day before the race is stretch.

5

I usually dont like taking a day off once I’m 4-5 days out from a race, espcially one I’m peaking for. At this point, I’m usually peaking so I feel restless and taking a day off will only make it worse. I definitely dont take the day before off.

6

Joe, dont take the day off, do and hour of riding, with a few climbing efforts in between to keep your legs ready for the next day’s effort.

Are you using periodization in your training yet?

I have been working on my '06 ATP for the last two weeks, should be done soon, all power based, have every ride planned through Valley of the Sun (http://www.wmrc.org/vos05/webflier/index.html) which is my first A race of 2006.

Right now I am riding an unstructured program of an easy 12 hours per week or so, based on 700’ish hours a year (maybe more hours, but this is manageable right now for me working so much), and will start the structured rides during the preparation period prior to base 1 (Friel), plus coached rides.

7

from the elite athletes I know, no one really takes the day before off. They might only do 15min.

8

Gary

For VOS what will you be racing 3’s or 4’s? I might want to throw in with you as part of a composite team.

9

I will be racing 3s

Will probably have three or four of us 3’s (www.cyclo-vets.org) there.

I’m down with a team effort. Just doing the domestique thing and hoping to give a good effort in the TT, work for the team in the RR, and not crash in the crit too badly :slight_smile:

  • g
10

I’m a 4 so a no go there. I don’t bike race enough to acumulate enough points to upgrade. Last time I was close about 6 points away, I crashed in a crit by myself (how embarrassing). it was 1.25 laps to go, each lap was taking between :55 -:60sec and I had a :30sec lead (even more embarrassing to crash when I could have coasted to the win)

11

you should have a recovery day before a race. spin for 1-2 hours. don’t run, don’t tax your hormones or your joints…just spin…but whatever you do don’t take a day off.

jerk

12

B! I take the day off TWO days before my race! The day before I do a little of everything to losen up!

13

I am not a fan of crits, but in a SR, I have to do them. I have been practicing them lately to get better, one of my major limiters is anaerobic endurance, I have the power for short sprints but cannot sustain extended efforts competitively, so I am including these in Build 1 and 2.

My main focus is building muscular endurance, lighten myself and my bike, optimizing my time trial position. My 2006 A races are: VoS, USCF CA TT Championships (main goal), and if I am fast enough - Masters TT Nationals.

14

I have one of the cyclists I coach heading to masters nationals for the TT this year. I’m pretty excited about her going and wish I hafd more vacation as I would head up and watch. Maybe next year.

15

Empty post contents.

16

I have family in AZ, will visit and plan to do racing out there in 06 , will PM you a schedule when I get it later this year

-g
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17

sweet, looking forward to it. If they are in tucson I’d head down to meet you. Tucson is awesome for training

18

I usually do about an hour or so the day before a big race. Easy swim (20) easy bike (30) easy run (10).

Two days before i do nothing or i swim for 15 - 30

Three days before i do an easy ride & run (60 / 20)

19

I generally only race IM and 1/2’s and fairly infrequently at that. I have been doing that for aobut 13 years however.

Through experimentation I have found for me before an IM I take about 6 days off…completely. I learned this when I had a crash 6 days before an IM once. I broke my skull and pelvis (didn’t know abou the pelvis at the time, just my whole body hurt). I managed a PB on a very hard race day.

Say IM is on Saturday. The Friday a week before, I will have a long swim, say 5 km, with a few bursts thrown in. Saturday I will have a swim, say 3 km or less and just cruise. Have breakfast then a 90 minute run at what I wish was race pace :-). Sunday I go our for an easy, flat 100km ride that is my favourite loop around here.

Monday I go to work and fluff around. No training

Tuesday I go to work and skive off early. I pack all my last minute stuff. No training

Wednesday I travel to the race and have a few beers to relax. I listen to music and tell lies with friends. I give their last minute workouts a miss.

Thursday I sleep in and have 2 naps during the day. I eat gummy worms and drink some beer and maybe some coffee. I skip the workouts with my mates. I pretend to work on my bike.

Friday I do all th registration stuff, have couple of beers and eat whatever grabs my fancy, along with some gummy worms and some beer. I have a nap or 2. I’m startin’ to get twitchy from not workin’ out for a few days and the beer helps calm me down.

Saturday I get up early, pretend to eat a bagel, have 3 coffees and get ready to race. I down a few gels, a litre of sports drink and listen to a compilation of really cool pre-race tunes. If the water is cold, no warmup. If the water is warm, I will do a warmup.

Gun goes off and so do I. Gotta Love It!!!

20

B/C (Very light training one of these days).