Is it overtraining or something else?
Our member Diana Moissonier asked: “What are the symptoms of over training? I’ve been feeling a little run-down (not getting sick), and my swim times are are getting worse. I can’t hold my TT pace like I had been. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.”
Diana is a marathon swimmer who had plans to swim the Catalina Channel before a shoulder surgery put her plans on hold.
Triathlon coach Justin Granger recommended:
Without knowing your rest and recovery patterns, it sounds like you are dealing with a flat spot in your training at the moment. Ideally you need to have a recovery day/easy day/day off at least every two weeks if you have been training consistently.
With all this information if it sets alarm bells ringing and you have been recovering but still feel fatigued all the time then I would suggest you see a sports doctor and run some blood tests to see if you are deficient in something. Otherwise rest some more, modify, reset, and read your body’s warning signs better.
Diana responded: “I have been having regular rest/recovery day/easy day/ day off. Now that you mentioned it, I have had an iron problem in the past. Haven’t taken any iron supplements since my shoulder surgery. I’ll have to have some blood work done. Thanks.”
When in doubt, it is always better to pull back and reassess instead of blindly continuing to push forward with training. If you have a coach, let them know how you’re feeling so they can either adjust your training or dig deeper to get to the root of your fatigue.
As a Pho3nix Club member, you have experts and coaches at your fingertips; all you need to do is ask a question to get pointed in the right direction.
(Featured photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash.)
