I’ve been a TrainerRoad subscriber since November and have really enjoyed getting stuck into structured training. I’ve been cycling on and off my whole life, but have seldom managed any consistency when it comes to training.
With the Christmas chaos out the way, I’ve been really focused on consistency and nutrition. I’ve felt excellent these past few weeks, hit all my workouts and seen improvements in my both FTP and VO2 Max (according to my Garmin at least), and my Training Status has been steadily in “Productive”.
Now midway through a recovery week, I’ve noticed I feel much worse than during the intensity weeks. I’ve felt a lot more tired, short tempered and stressed, and my Garmin stats (though I appreciate are more indicative than accurate) show my Training Status as “Unproductive” and decreases in my VO2 Max. Life stress, nutrition, sleep and resting heart rate have all been pretty stable through both the intensity block and recovery week.
Is this normal? Like my body is trying to shed the stress I’ve accumulated? Or would you expect to feel more relaxed and recovered the full duration of the recovery week?
I can relate to this too. Feeling groggy and unsure whether to add a shatter of mild intensity to at least physiologically prepare for next week. Something like tempo intervals rather than just z2 or Goddard or low pl vo2 on offs.
I thought the same, may add a bit of intensity to tomorrows workout and see if that wakes the legs up a little bit… sort of an opener for next weeks intensity
Yeah I do take the Garmin data with a pinch of salt. However, whilst the values may not be correct I assume it’s still relative, i.e., an increase is an increase and a decrease is a decrease
I’ve heard it called having the Taper Tantrums—I know that in recovery weeks and tapers before races, I feel off, often crabby, and sometimes sore or heavy-legged
Would you guys add some intensity on the Saturday (today) then another z2 on sunday. Before the next block. Thinking Goddard or Jane bald? Thoughts appreciated. I share the negative sensations, done all z2 this week feel flat.
That’s exactly what I did. Had a 90 minute Z2 scheduled today, so I replaced it with Andrew’s +1 which is essentially the same workout with a few 20sec sprints @ 180% added for good measure.
Legs felt good and has me eager to get stuck into the next block.
Had 90mins z2. But going to replace it with Goddard I reckon. Then z2 1hr tomorrow. Monday rest before back to business on Tuesday with Eclipse
Feeling a bit fatigued but hopefully this not too intense will pep me up with Monday off to further cement the lower intensity week.
My hr hasn’t been above 130 this week which feels very weird.
Done lots of walking for mental health, low key gym sessions and yoga. Tried to keep carbs up despite the head throwing up some resistance, probably still not enough but we keep trying.
90g oats this morning with a bit of PB, few raisins and a bit Protein powder 1/2 coffees.
i wouldn’t even take it as relative. I think it adds more noise than signal. In addition, the error on that model is fairly large. If we assume that it is relative the main question becomes, “what are you going to do with that number?” Does that number change the way you are actually feeling? probably not.
The best metric researchers and the pros use for training status and recovery isn’t anything from the wearable’s, rather it’s answering the simple question, “how are you feeling?”
