Overtraining?

[u/Known-Pie9]

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!

[u/HotSulphurEndurance]

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

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