Hi,
Sorry I know I’m not an elite or anything but would really really appreciate some advice.
I feel like I was peaking really great in the middle of our outdoor season, with my times reaching 11:50ish in the 32 and 5:40 in the 16. I was hoping to Pr in both events by the end of the season and hopefully reach 11:45 and 5:35 at conference and states these next two weeks, and I used to be able to triple with also the 4x8 and be fine, but lately my legs feel so heavy and I feel so slow. People who have never passed me before are beating me with ease and I can tell my times are much worse than they were only a few weeks ago. I’m suddenly getting 5:49 and 12:10, which I know I can do better than but whenever we start a race I just haven’t felt that same rush that I always have.
At this point I assume it’s overtraining or maybe even being anemic? Overtraining would make sense I feel because my mileage went up from around 30 to almost 40 within a week or two, now with up to 3 meets a week instead of 1 meet and 1 solid workout. I haven’t had many rest days either, but I’m usually fine with just easy recovery runs once a week. And in terms of maybe anemia, I don’t know what my iron levels are, but I’m vegetarian and I doubt I’m probably getting enough. What does it feel like if you’re anemic? Can that impact times by a lot?
Now I’m just tapering like mad and hoping for the best because I don’t know what else I should be doing. Would anything else help more?
Can someone please give advice? I’d really appreciate anything. How can I taper or have enough of a comeback to get one or two more good races (hopefully prs) at conference and states?