Living proof that time off training reduces fitness

Today I was living proof that when you stop training for a week it affects your fitness. Oh and add eat a lot of junk food for the whole week too! My last run was exactly a week ago when I impressed myself by going on a 5k run during a work trip to Durban. It turned out to be hill work given the terrain there, and my quads were quite sore afterwards. Well as it turns out there was no need to be impressed, because I let exactly 6 days elapse before my next workout.


I attended the Global Diabetes SA event at Mouille Point this morning and opted for the 10k run. Ouch. I was so out of breath at the 2k mark that I marvelled that I’ve ever been able to run 21k! One theory is that running by the sea is dehydrating and therefore more difficult. I felt similar exhaustion running the KFM Gun Run, which is also along the Atlantic Seaboard. A more plausible theory is that I am not as fit as I think I am. In fact, that’s almost a certainty!


I realised that whether you’re running 5k, 10k, 15k or 21k, in a race you feel exactly the same at the 3rd, halfway, and last 2k to go markers. It’s proof that it really is mental/ psychological. When you know you’ve only got 2k to go, whether you’ve already run 8 or 19, you suffer similar exhaustion. And you feel tired 2kms in during a 10k race because you know there’s only 8 to go.


So, my goal for the next week is to try to train more consistently, even if they are not quality workouts. I plan to do some running, hiking and a couple of gym classes for general strength training. I’ve been selected as the Shape Magazine 2010 Fitness Diarist and their team of trainers, nutritionists etc are going to get me ready to compete in a triathlon in Sept/Oct 2010. I can tell you that their trainers have their work cut out for them! Will blog more about this later. Guess I may as well get a head start on developing some proper base fitness before the professionals are let loose on me!