You know, we talk a lot about training. But we talk less about recovery, even less so about recovery from events.
I did my first half-IM Sunday, felt OK enough to swim mid-week, then did a 1.75hr endurance ride at decent watts on Thurs. Another easy swim yesterday, and a 3hr ride/20 min run today. Today was awful. Low watts, high HR.
Shouldn’t I be feeling pretty good, pretty fit right about now? I’m definitely not!
Aztec, how did your swim go?
takes me 3 weeks to feel normal after a 1/2…I wouldn’t worry
.
Way better than planned – about 42 mins. No stress at all. Other than that it seemed to go forever, and I went off track a bit because I didn’t sight very well, I was really happy. Instead of starting at the back in knee deep water, I should’ve started up more. I might’ve broken 40 mins if I had.
takes me 3 weeks to feel normal after a 1/2…I wouldn’t worry
Does that mean back off training? Jeez, hope not. I have another one in 7 weeks and want to do much much better…
Good job fella!
Does that mean back off training? Jeez, hope not. I have another one in 7 weeks and want to do much much better…
Everyone recovers differently…you do need some recovery time after the 1/2, so I wouldn’t push too hard just yet. Your body is giving you some signals…but you know, the body is weird. One day, you feel like shit and that you’re running with someone else’s legs that have never run before in their life…next day, you feel like you’re running on air for 3 times the distance.
An apt description of my runs the last two days. The body is weird, man. But again, listen to it…If you’ve got a good base in you, recovery shouldn’t be too long, but depending on how hard you pushed in the race will dictate how much residual fatigue you’re feeling.
Aztec,
Hey, way to go! I must admit that I ws a bit worried about your swim but it looks like you did just fine. If you can wear a wetsuit for the next one you won’t believe how much easier it is.
Congrats on your success.
robert
What race did you do? How was the whole race (sounds like the swim was good).
I did a 1/2 last Sunday as well. It was a very very hard day (25mph winds, 90+ degree heat, lots of hills). I was pretty wasted on Sunday night, and I was dead tired all of Monday. My short recovery run (4 miles) on monday was VERY slow. On tuesday I did a moderate swim. I felt better that day, but I was still pretty sleepy all day, and extra hungry. On wednesday (25 mile easy bike, 4 mile easy run), I felt pretty normal. All my workouts this week have been easy, and I think I’m fully recovered by now. I probably could have done a tough workout on Thursday or Friday, but I’m glad I didn’t. Starting on Monday I’m jumping back into hard training for my next half IM on 7/17.
-Colin
Aztec, Nice job on the 1/2!! I went pretty deep into the well at gulfcoast in May, I didn’t run a step for 10 days afterwards. I didn’t feel like I had full power back in my legs for 3 weeks. I wouldn’t rush it, let your body absorb the race. Racing is great training if you recover properly. Each race is a learning experience,incorporate what you learned in your next race plan to save time, your body has already proved it can go the distance. How about a race report??
2 words…Ice Bath!
Dave in VA
I must be sick and insane. I’ve done competitive 1/2IMs on consecutive weekends on more than a few occasions.
Helps explain why I got myself injured for a few years, huh?
Sincerely,
Big Dummy
Elites can recover in days.
BOP’ers can take two weeks (or more!).
Depends on how hard you raced too, and the toughness of the course.
Listen to your body. Sounds like your tired still. Rest.
What race did you do? How was the whole race (sounds like the swim was good).
I did a 1/2 last Sunday as well. It was a very very hard day (25mph winds, 90+ degree heat, lots of hills). I was pretty wasted on Sunday night, and I was dead tired all of Monday. My short recovery run (4 miles) on monday was VERY slow. On tuesday I did a moderate swim. I felt better that day, but I was still pretty sleepy all day, and extra hungry. On wednesday (25 mile easy bike, 4 mile easy run), I felt pretty normal. All my workouts this week have been easy, and I think I’m fully recovered by now. I probably could have done a tough workout on Thursday or Friday, but I’m glad I didn’t. Starting on Monday I’m jumping back into hard training for my next half IM on 7/17.
-Colin
I did Honu. Basic report… swim was worrisome at the start, but as soon as I starting swimming my nerves disappeared and I just f’n swam. It was pretty easy to just stay in the BOP cluster. I should’ve maybe seeded myself a little farther forward because there was a big pack ~5 mins ahead that I probably could’ve held onto if I stayed on good feet. The bike was easy as well, but passing so many people was a huge energy drain and time-killer as I waited to get around blockers. Being late out of the water and held up by traffic meant I got hammered by the headwinds that pick up as the day rolls on. I held way back, saving it for the run. But when the run came, I still didn’t have much juice. I walked a bit of it, maybe 1-2 miles total, hard to day. All the fun of the swim/bike was offset by that torture. I took leisurely transitions because I was just glad to be there, but in the end, when I saw my time over 6 hours, I was a little mad for not speeding things up and pushing the bike a bit.
You did that race in the sauna too;) I just started “training” again by doing an hour ride on my MTB. I won’t run until this Wed. It takes me at least a week to fully recover.
i doubt you’ll lose any fitness for your next half IM. I would rest ans start back slowly. No use toasting yorself.
Seemed like easy weather until the hill right before turning back onto the Queen K 5 miles before Hapuna. Then it really heated up 10 seconds into the run… But I never really thought about the heat as a factor. I think I just ran outta gas.
Hey–
Congrats on your first half…I find that fatigue catches up with you a few days later. So, not totally surprising you felt a little off. You will prob. feel better going into this week. what is the phrase"…if it doesn’t kill you, it will only make you stronger!
<< Way better than planned – about 42 mins. No stress at all >>
A HA!!! I suck more than you do! I suck more than you do!
(yes, I am actually gloating about being a worse swimmer than somebody else.)
Nice work!!! CONGRATS!!!
To your question - it took me almost 2 weeks to feel back up to snuff again. I was tired, HR was high, didn’t have any pop in my legs, all that stuff. First week was the worst, then starting week 2 it got better and better as the week progressed. YMMV.
Signed - the NEW 2005 *Worst Swimmer on the Forum.
(* I actually had a non-terrible swim in a sprint Tri today, so I don’t think I’ll be keeping the title for long. There was a dude there swimming with one of those lifeguard floatie things; so much for not being able to use flotation devices)
Well, I was a strong contender to defend my 2004 title until race day worked out surprisingly better than any data point before then. I can’t wait to try a wetsuit swim!!!