In many ways, life has returned to normal since I resumed my regular rowing practice. The laundry basket is reassuringly full of lycra. My hands are once more attractively covered in callouses. You can’t get through the back door without tripping over wellies. And I’ve even got muscles where my normal, non-rowing friends don’t.
But there’s one thing that is different this time: I’ve been finding it tiring – really, really tiring. Not the usual, achey tiredness that I used to experience at the end of an outing… but a deep, engulfing exhaustion that has me falling asleep over my soup and even – and this really is a first for me – going to bed way before 10 on training days.
I’m not really sure why this is. Our outings aren’t longer than before. I’m back to pretty normal levels of fitness. And I haven’t aged that much in the intervening period.
Could it be that I’m trying harder? Or that my technique’s improving and I’m achieving more out of each stroke? Is it merely the passing of another year? Or have I got selective amnesia that has made me forget how knackering it always was?
Anyway, I’m too tired to figure it out right now. I’m off for another snooze, so wake me up if you have any answers. Zzzzzz…..
I have been feeling that for several months, to the extent that I have taken a step back from rowing for a few months. It seems to be a common theme at work too, with non-rowers. I am hopeful that it is an after effect of a less than sunny summer (not enough vit D) combined with a rather up-and-down winter.
Fingers crossed than within the next 4 – 6 weeks, we all start to get a bit more energy again!
Interesting. Sounds as though everyone needs a holiday…
I’m not a rower but a runner but have had my own battles with exhaustion. Full blown over-training syndrome is not something I’d wish on anyone and I’ve been there twice (obviously I’m a slow learner). My suggestion would be to back off a bit for a while and see if you start to feel any better and if not go and get a check up. My problems stemmed from too low testosterone levels because of my age and being on an oral contraceptive but low thyroid, low Vit D, anaemia and other conditions can be an underlying cause. Or it may simply be that you’re not getting quite enough recovery between sessions.
Good luck!
Thank you! Don’t think it’s overtraining this time – am an old hand with that one! – but keeping an open mind.
Tricky, isn’t it – with endurance training, if you’re doing it right, you should be exhausted. But, exhaustion is also a sign of being under the weather, and also (dare I say) recovery is harder the older you get! I’m sure you’re good at nutrition and sleeping, but they’re the key things for recovery. Make sure you eat very soon after training.
re the Vit D comments above, it’s a common deficiency – the GB women & lightweights get tested and all bar a handful have to take supplements. Not what you’d expect from those with an outdoor lifestyle!
Sleep well!
Thanks, Martha! Vit D deficiency wouldn’t be a surprise after the winter we’ve had – must stick my face out of the window as the sun’s out right now! Perhaps could do better than cake immediately after training!
You’ve been poorly recently – maybe your system is still recovering?
Ah yes, quite possibly. It was only a cold, but maybe it has more of an effect than you expect.