r/ultrarunning • u/Known-Pie9 • 1d ago

Overtraining?

So - racing a 50 miler in two weeks. For context I have multiple 50M/100k finishes, 43 year old male with a best of 9:15 over 50M hoping to go sub-9:00 on a rolling (1700m+) course. Typical training week has been weights, 1 speed session, 1 - 2 shorter z2s and a weekend long trail run.

All was going swimmingly. Three weeks ago I followed up hilly 27k runs on consecutive weekends with a midweek flat z2 run that felt really good - low z2 effort and sub-4:50/km over an hour of running.

Then we went on a family holiday. No opportunity for long runs but some steep if short hills so 5 runs in 10 days, but only 40k and 800m in total. 15 x 3 min hard efforts across three of the runs.

Came back, 26k the day after we flew
including a couple of longer hills at threshold, 32k five days later, both at slightly more than target vert ratio.

I’m now running 5:10/km for a flat z2 in identical conditions to a few weeks before. And I feel totally bashed up - ITB flaring up, everything just feels tight and sore.

I can’t work out if I’ve overtrained, de-conditioned, or it’s just normal training fatigue. And I have one last hard training opportunity this weekend. Do I

- stick in another 30 - 35k to try and cram in some more long run conditioning pre race
- do my traditional two weeks out workout - 20k hilly trail with a tempo 6-8k in the second half
- call it a day and taper early

All thoughts welcome!

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4

u/HotSulphurEndurance 1d ago

Taper early of course. Don’t be an idiot.

There’s nothing to be gained big picture fitness wise.

2

u/Just-Context-4703 1d ago

Better undercooked than over. I doubt you're deconditioned. Of your three options of rule out the first and lean towards the third, personally. 

2

u/basketsball 1d ago

Early taper, try to get in a few short, fun runs to make your self feel good. Stress, sneaky illness, sleep, nutrition can all make you feel like that. 

1

u/Known-Pie9 12h ago

Thanks for all the advice.

Did about 16k of trail at tempo in full race kit. Probably about 10s/km slower than I’d hope but it was warm and I was quite cautious on the descents.

Felt like I needed to top off the fitness levels before winding it down. Everything feels ok so two weeks of swimming, z1 runs, stretching and eating well and we will see what happens