I'm finking Tired

Fink user here as well, IMAZ 2011;  

On a few occasions, I kept my Tuesday workout at a Z2 because of residual leg soreness.  Looking back at this choice, I feel it was the right one to make.  The biggest obstacle is making it to race day uninjured.  

What about swapping Tuesday/Wednesday? 

A brick with the shorter Z2 run might work better than a longer run with Z4 work.  Give the legs one more day to recooperate before hitting the Z4 work.

That is my normal running routine (long run Sunday/speedwork on Wednesday) and plan on flopping Tuesday/Wednesday on my fink plan to mirror what has been successful for me before.

I did two things that previous posters have suggested:

1.  After all the long rides, I put on my recovery socks and pretty much wore them the rest of the day.  Luckily for me, the bulk of my long training was during college football season, so very easy to put on the recovery socks and chill out the rest of the day watching football and not get the "why are you being so lazy" looks from the family.

2.  I switched some of the training days around to fit my schedule.  I would swim on Monday, which I think helped with recovery as well, and then did the brick workout on Tuesdays (as a previous poster said).  

Since it was my first time through, I didn't really pay attention to the zones, but just focused on getting the workouts in.  This time around I'll try to pay more attention and see how it goes.

When all else fails, listen to your body.  If you feel like you need a break, take one.

Glad that you posted this because I was really beating myself up for taking an unplanned rest day yesterday during Week 13.  I just woke up and didn't have anything in me and decided to push it the evening but fell asleep on the couch.  I have been feeling great up til this week but am now starting to feel sluggish, crabby and down on myself.  I think a lot of that has to do with my diet as I have kind of slacked the past few weeks and I think it is starting to catch up to me.  I know that this is only the start of it and the training is really gonna pick up over the next few weeks but this discussion is great as I feel like I am not such a slacker and feeling tired and taking an extra rest day is normal and should be expected. 

I want to thank everyone for the advice.  I missed my run tuesday as well as my swim and I did feel guilty about it but I have to say, my wed workout was much better and my ride this morning went great as well. 

I do like the idea of switching my tues run with my wed brick.  I'm not sure I would do any z4 bike work but sometimes a shorter, easier bike losens me up where I can run strong again.  I think i'll try this for the next 2 weeks and if I still feel sluggish and sore, my next switch would be my long runs from Sunday to Tuesday...A

Again, thanks for all your advice and stay healthy all

I'm using Fink's plan for CdA, but I've been very liberal in switching around the days to match what works for me.  I'm doing my long runs on Wednesdays and long rides on Saturdays.  Seems to be working so far.

I'm tired, but it seems like everyone is at this point.

What about doing the long ride/short run brick on Sat only every OTHER week?  This may be an option if switching around the days doesn't work with your schedule (ex, if you're a 9-5er and the weekends are best for both your long owrkouts).  Getting in a short run after your long ride even every other week is still super great, but may not be as fatiguing?  Just a though...  For my last IM I used a combo of the intermed and comepetative program and only did that Saturday brick about every 3rd week and felt like it challenged me, but didn't knock me out.

Keep up the great work though!!

Didn't do Fink but similar.  Toward the end I was getting really, really tired.  Always did my long ride on Sat and long run on Sun too.  Couldn't fit the run in any other time.  But, I swam on Monday, trainer on Tuesday and didn't run again until Wednesday night. 

The saving grace was that for the last 8 weeks I always had Friday as a rest day.  Sure made going into the weekend that much easier.

good luck,

Duane 

Update on my training plan change:  Last week, I decided I would do my 90 min run saturday and my 3.5 hour ride and 30 min run sunday.  It worked out really well.  I felt very strong on the run, wasn't tired at all Saturday and had a great day with my wife and kids.  Sunday morning I did my long bike/short run and that to went well.  I felt fresh on the bike.  I remember saying to myself right before the end of the ride that I wanted to keep going.  I felt great even after 3 hours of riding hills!  I hopped off the bike and ran 4 miles and by the 3rd mile, I almost felt like I never even biked.  I was pumped!  Talk about motivating...Bring it on week 17! 

Glad to hear it!

I'm a week behind you (training for IMC).  Have work travel this week, and between being in a strange place and the travel weariness, I'm mentally exhausted after a day of work and having a hard time getting things done.  I guess the good thing is that I'm not doing the 'scheduled' Olympic distance race, so I can use that week to catch up instead of the shorter/easier workouts.

Will still be on the road a few more weeks, but the next location will not wear me out as much and I can focus better on training, rather than just surviving each work day.

(and yes, I am travelling with a bike and trainer to make sure I have what I need--just need to use them!)