I felt amazing last week. Legs felt great. I’ve nailed all my workouts, added on long rides on the advice of a coach, got all the kit sorted, prep couldn’t have gone better
The last few days though I’ve been fighting something. Headache, general run down feeling. I thought just a taper-tantrum but today I wake up with a sore throat, head cold, raised resting heart rate and hot-cold sweats.
Months and months of prep, vast amounts of money spent, a huge road trip to get there and this happens.
24 hr race on Saturday
Make me feel better. Please??
(I am resting and definitely not doing the last two workouts of the taper, just in case anyone wonders!)
You’ll be over the worst of it by Sunday, and your legs will thank you for lifting off training early.
Tapering is different for everyone but if it were me I’d do some very very easy rides e.g. no more than 55% FTP, as I find my legs feel better this way rather than complete rest.
It’s supposed to be fun and results should be secondary. Unless you’re a paid professional don’t beat yourself up if you’re not at your best. It might be in your head, I’ve had great results on times I’ve felt like crap. End of the day it’s supposed to be fun, I don’t think you’d spend all that money if it’s not fun.
At least I wouldn’t.
I’ve been there plenty of times. Lightly spin out the legs each day and maximize good food, hydration and rest. No matter how you feel leading up to the race, once it starts you’ll be good to go.
Just know you’ve done all you can to prep and not feel great won’t erase that.
If it were me, I would possibly do a super easy half an hour session the day before. When I’ve had colds and flu etc, as it comes to an end I’ve found an easy session just helps in some strange way. Seems to help regulate my temperature, clear my sinuses, loosen the legs, refresh the mind. Could just be coincidence or maybe it’s just half an hour of being able to do nothing else but spin the pedals and think.
When I say easy, I mean probably even easier than TR’s easy recovery 1.0 rated endurance rides. Almost using no more than the weight of your legs on the down stroke to turn the pedals.
Agree with all the other posts though, you’ve lost barely any fitness, it’s not your paid profession, you’re doing it for fun - so does success look any different to following the process on the day and doing your best with what you’ve got on that day? I’ve had shockers when I feel like I should have had amazing performances and had good days when I’ve felt terrible in the lead up.
And you want an excuse to have to have another go next year, right
My very first race after getting my Pro license, I had the flu. I’ve only had the flu once before in my life, this was the second time. Lining up against the best in the nation (and some from around the world), and I barely had the strength to turn my pedals.
I still felt pretty rough morning of race day, but my resting heart rate had come.back down and I’d slept well.so went racing. I felt rough for the first 6 hrs then after that i had a world of other pain to take my mind of it
I’m probably going to pay for it for a while so have two weeks rest pencilled in now before starting a new training block.
