ZZZ

To some extent, marathon training is like interval workout,

especially when you are doing three quality runs per week.

The first week is like the first repeat, it felt so easy

that you wonder what is the problem with all those guys who

complaint about marathon training.

The second week, you've got even stronger and you think you

are invincible and could do it forever. Yeah, bring it on

man!


But as you progress through the calendar of the training weeks,

and as the training intensity gets tougher and the volume gets higher,

the training soon take its toll.


It is the sixth week of my marathon training and I already felt

'zapped'. Yesterday's tempo run was no way up to expectation.

It wasn't because I wouldn't push hard, but couldn't.

The pace of the run clearly felt as hard as 5:00min/K, but every time

I looked at the Polar watch, it said 5:30min/K or slower. I willed

my mind and pushed my legs to make the watch said 5:00min/K to me,

but the legs didn't get faster, instead, it got heavier

and even more clumsy. Obviously, the polar watch didn't response too.


Now I am alarmed to get the ZZZ in, or else, not only tomorrow's

interval workout will face similar fate, the weekend long run

together with next week's training will be affected too.


There is a ghost in every marathon training program,

and if you are not careful enough and haunted by it,

you will face the following symptoms. Firstly,

like what aforementioned, your performance drops

even though you have tried harder. And that drop of

performance is usually sudden and without any obvious reason.

Another thing that will be quite noticeable is insomnia.

You will tend to have difficulties in falling asleep,

wake up more often than usual during the night,

and feel awfully tire upon waking up instead of

being refreshed. You also tend to have more

leg soreness, aches and pains here and there

in muscles and joints. You becomes more

moody and irritable, you have decreased appetite,

etc. Generally, you are washed-out and drained out

of energy, worse of all, you might even lose enthusiasm

for the beloved sport of running.

But one thing for sure,

YOU ALWAYS FEEL A COMPULSIVE NEED TO RUN AND TO TRAIN.

and the more you train, the worse it gets, and the worse

it get, the harder you train. Clearly, it is a vicious cycle.

BTW, that ghost's name is OVERTRAIN SYNDROME.


And if you detect any of these aforementioned symptoms,

it is best you back off your training and start the

ZZZ loading.

You will continue taking these prescriptions until

the day when the urge of training hard sparks again

and turns to fire. But until then,


REST WELL.


Crank on.