Gray Guy/Girls Tri--Masters Sprint/Olympic Mentor Group CLOSED (Page 12)

Hard times at work may derail my "A" race Saturday.

I have worked a total of SEVEN - twelve hour shifts in a row. Today I was off, but I have to return to work for the rest of the week. At first I kept telling myself that it was going to be OK, just trust your training. But riding the bike this morning made me realize, I am tired.

So, I have been stewing over a plan to try to be in the best race shape under these circumstances on Saturday.

1. Rest - try to increase my nightly sleep by an hour. May even take a sleep aid because when I am this tired, I sleep poorly.

2. Reveiw what I have on my training plan and shorten the workouts. Make sure I have some "speed ups" in every workout. I need to wake up these legs.

I am open to any suggestions – other than quitting a job I enjoy. Any thoughts?

What?  You mean strawberry pie isn't a food group?

I remember back when I was swimming something similar happening.  Two weeks before the long course national championships, we were just starting our taper, so our focus was on 'easing up.'  Before workout, there was a group of us screwing around and I ended up with two broken fingers.

Sometimes, as Forest Gump said, S$%& happens.  First, absolutely trust your training.  You are only a few days before the race at this point so if this is one of your 'A' races you are likely deep into a taper already.  I would accelerate your taper a bit, enough to stay loose and get the blood flowing but far below what will actually tire you.  I would likely even take a day off completely from any type of training and the time I would have otherwise been training I would be resting.  Obviously get as much rest as you can over the next couple days.  Again, if you have been training properly, the fitness is already there.  The next most important thing is to get your head past what you perceive as a problem. If you are standing at the starting line on Saturday morning telling yourself how tired you are, you will have already conceded defeat.  You can let this be an obstacle or you can let this be a motivator.  That choice is yours alone.

Finally, this is one of your 'A' races.  I certainly wouldn't miss it.  I swam that nationals with broken fingers.  I also would not lower my expectations.  I wouldn't quit my job either.  Go to the race, have a good time, trust your training, and remind yourself, if you do the race right, your SUPPOSE to be tired when you cross the finish line!

Good luck and have a good race!