I’m new to Slowtwitch but could use some advice.
I raced Eagleman last weekend, and no secret that it was hot. I had no acclimatization prior to the race, since our spring was very cool. That said, I was very fit going into the race, and well rested.
I’ve been tired all week and would like to return to structured training for an upcoming IM. I took three days almost completely off after the race (with the exception of only a 2K swim). Since then, I’ve had 1 run, 1 bike, and 2 swims, all easy.
I’ve never felt this tired after a half IM. My head is foggy.
My question - how much does the heat and humidity affect recovery? Is the heat why I still feel so tired? I would like to figure out if I overdid things going into the race (so that I can adjust my training), or whether the heat is to blame.
What can I do while I continue to recover if the heat is the culprit? Is it different from any other type of recovery (i.e. where the distance or the intensity is the culprit)? Is it OK to do non-cardio training, like yoga? Is lots of swimming OK? Is it OK to do zone 1 training? Or is it better to do none of the above and just rest?
Please help. I have another half IM in six weeks, and a full in 12 weeks. I would rather rest now, then pay later, but would like to minimize fitness losses.