You haven’t lost fitness, you’re overcooked.
- Yep it could and probably is.
- Depending on the gap between now and those upcoming races, do a recovery week or even two, drop the volume a bit, and then carefully build some intensity back in without searching for volume. Almost like a minimum viable dose/openers approach.
- Plan your loading better - Use a coach, use planbuilder here and put in events, improve your listening to the body and mind, signs you might be in need of small breaks/unloading.