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How do your legs feel during training?

krazyfranco's picture
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started by krazyfranco on April 16, 2008

Hey all-
I was just wondering how your legs feel on a standard day. I just started my 20 week half-IM training plan a couple of weeks ago (after a couple months of base) and day in and day out my legs just feel kinda... tired. Slow. Ho-hum. Not fresh.
I haven't trained consistently, like I have the past 3 months or so, since high school CC (3 years ago).
Does this sound pretty normal? Do your legs ever feel fresh? Am I just plateau-ing?
Thanks-
Greg

kevinb421's picture
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kevinb421 posted 4 weeks ago.

Depending on how much base endurance you have your legs could be getting a little overworked.
It could also just be that your not used to the training yet and just need to give it time.
During the week I might be able to feel the day's workout, and I can almost always feel my weekend workouts, but never really off.

I'm guessing unless it is bad it is normal. You just need to get back into the training program to feel better.

"If your not going to win, make the fellow in front of you break a record."

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TryScott's picture
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TryScott posted 4 weeks ago.

My legs felt that way when I started running more regular back in January. I'd take a few days off and they would feel better, but then they would go right back to feeling tired when I continued training again. I'm not sure when it went away, but in March I ran more than in Feb, and my legs felt less tired.

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NotAsFast posted 4 weeks ago.

I found the first 8 weeks of my 20 week program was an exercise in losing fitness, then bam, it all started to come together. Soreness is normal, being sluggish is normal especially after hard workout days. Look at the riders in the TDF. The all have a drop in performance for the first 4-5 days, then they start to get their race fitness as they get used to the daily routine.

Since we a re not Pro's and dont train all day almost every day, we take a little bit longer to get our legs underneath us. The key to this is recovery and rest. Sleep 8 or more hours a day, eat the right amount of protein and carbs directly after working out, take one day off and incorporate a recovery week with less intensity and time, every 3-4 weeks to allow you body to recover and finally listen to your body. If you are ready to go for a two hour run and you cant get one foot in front of another walking, maybe your workout wont be so good.

As for fresh leg, that is what the taper is all about, being fresh on Race day.........

Good luck on the training, and twenty weeks sounds like a long time, but it will arrive very fast.

What HIM are you training for?

olivestri's picture
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olivestri posted 4 weeks ago.

see article link in forum topic "short hard & long slow" or whatever its called. not sure about your training plan, but i would add some speed workouts to get a boost.

plus - we're not getting any younger and, frankly, when i run any more it basically just hurts.

stewarba's picture
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stewarba posted 4 weeks ago.

I had the same general feeling a couple of weeks ago. I didn't feel bad, but not great either on my runs. I had a "C" event 10K and focused more on running than cycling and swimming for the two weeks leading up. Once the race was over I took 9 days off from running, but played a little catch-up if you will in the water and on the bike. I went out 2 days ago for what I planned on being a 5 mile easy run to just get back into the pounding of running but after the first mile I was feeling so good that I just let go and took off. My legs felt stronger than they have for some time. I'm not sure if it was the time off, but I really can't think of another reason.

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tsilcyc's picture
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tsilcyc posted 4 weeks ago.

With 2.5 months of training, I would think your legs would feel less fatigued than when you initially started. Your legs will feel tired because you're working them though. How you feel might not be as good an indicator as how you're performing. How's your running? Are you slower, faster, or the same as when you started. Are you incorporating time trials into your routine for progress markers?

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wmckean posted 4 weeks ago.

When I wake up in the morning, I sometimes wonder how I am going to walk. Then, when it comes time to train, I wonder how I am going to ride/run. I always seem to find the strength to do both, and my legs actually feel pretty strong after I shake the sluggishness off of them.

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tsilcyc posted 4 weeks ago.

This could be more mental than physical. You might be a little over trained. Do you have RR weeks incorporated into your plan. How do you feel after one of those weeks?

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krazyfranco's picture
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krazyfranco posted 4 weeks ago.

olivestri wrote:

plus - we're not getting any younger and, frankly, when i run any more it basically just hurts.

I'm 21!

NotAsFast wrote:

What HIM are you training for?

Pigman, in Palo, IA August 17.

tsilcyc wrote:
This could be more mental than physical. You might be a little over trained. Do you have RR weeks incorporated into your plan. How do you feel after one of those weeks?

There are recovery weeks, but I haven't gotten to one yet.

Sully800's picture
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Sully800 posted 4 weeks ago.

You should incorporate rest weeks into your base period! If you have done 3 months of base and not taken any rest, then its no wonder your legs are tired. You should increase your training time in all three disciplines for 2-3 weeks, and then decrease the time for a week to allow your body to rest and get stronger.

krazyfranco's picture
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krazyfranco posted 4 weeks ago.

Sully800 wrote:
You should incorporate rest weeks into your base period! If you have done 3 months of base and not taken any rest, then its no wonder your legs are tired. You should increase your training time in all three disciplines for 2-3 weeks, and then decrease the time for a week to allow your body to rest and get stronger.

Sorry- I havent had a rest week in the past 2 weeks, since I started this specific plan.
I have definitely taken rest weeks in the past 3 months :)

Nutty's picture
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Nutty posted 4 weeks ago.

I had this same issue a couple weeks ago. Im on a 20 week plan as well, but Steelhead (my first half) is a few weeks before yours. I was feeling about the same at first. Give it another week. Sleep lots, eat right, and take lots of vitamins.

The trick for me has also been to get into a pattern. At first i was just training whenever i had time. Now i set aside bricks of time in the morning before work so that im abusing my body at the same time every day, it seems to like it better.

-Alan

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tsilcyc's picture
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tsilcyc posted 4 weeks ago.

krazyfranco wrote:
Sully800 wrote:
You should incorporate rest weeks into your base period! If you have done 3 months of base and not taken any rest, then its no wonder your legs are tired. You should increase your training time in all three disciplines for 2-3 weeks, and then decrease the time for a week to allow your body to rest and get stronger.

Sorry- I havent had a rest week in the past 2 weeks, since I started this specific plan.
I have definitely taken rest weeks in the past 3 months :)

Other things to consider... How much sleep are you getting? How about what you're eating?

Sorry, I'm just throwing darts here.

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rebekahliz posted 4 weeks ago.

Other things to consider... How much sleep are you getting? How about what you're eating?

Sorry, I'm just throwing darts here.

Yeah, diet. Hope you're paying attention to your pre- and post-workout fuel. If I don't aim for that magic 4/1 combo, I feel like crap the following day. And I assume you're alternating hard and easy workouts in each discipline, particularly the run.

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tri-ac posted 4 weeks ago.

Nutty wrote:
The trick for me has also been to get into a pattern. At first i was just training whenever i had time. Now i set aside bricks of time in the morning before work so that im abusing my body at the same time every day, it seems to like it better.

-Alan

+1
running at night and then biking first thing in the morning (or somesuch combination) can add up pretty quickly if you're not used to that kind of frequency