This week I put 100% effort into doing ~50% of my training volume (7.5 hrs). It's not easy to only train half as many hours as you're used to, especially when the body begins to feel normal again. Although, my body didn't even feel normal until Friday evening when I did a trainer sess. I threw in some intervals of 300+ watts, and that's when I realized I was on the mend--and then I almost passed out. jk.Not only was volume cut in half, but I dramatically dropped the intensity too (minus the VO2max test, oops). However, my appetite skyrocketed--after all, what's a recovery week without some serious eating?! My body obviously needed it. I consumed tons and didn't gain an ounce. And I slept a ton, about 8-9 hours a night. Is it just me, or does anyone else sleep more the lazier they are?
So recovery week... what's the big deal?
Well.... My biggest problem last season was not resting enough. It's not that I was naive to the concept of rest. I knew why recovery is necessary, but my mind got the best of me: I couldn't handle the thought of sitting around while everyone else was training...Dumb!...I cheated on my recovery weeks...& Dumber! That ended up biting me in the ass. I learned.
This year will be different. I enjoy, welcome and respect the rest. Some friends threw in their two-cents too; that always helps me. Allen told me: "There is no such thing as over-training, just under-resting...let the body adapt!"
After my seven.point.fiver: 1) I got a crap load of real work done, and 2) I feel pretty fresh going into my next and *last* (gasp) big training block before Oceanside. Starting Monday, it will be three weeks of butt-kicking work, then I start a two-week taper.
Yea, two weeks! For some people that amount of taper may seem rather long for a 70.3, but I know my body's needs and I know that these next three weeks are going to leave me trashed. So the taper plan: gradual decrease in volume the first week, then major taper the week before the race.
I hope I get in an ocean swim before March 27!
