Fighting through Fatigue

BerttiBott

Hello all, I'm a distance runner and I've experienced some profound fatigue after moving to a new city ten days ago.

Since I have no car, balancing transportation and sports have proved difficult as I must walk or bike between 5 and 7 extra miles per day depending on my schedule. Before, I'd be mostly sedentary after my runs and I'd be recovered enough to venture out again the next day.

I've upped my energy and fluid intake, of course, but I still feel ghastly. It's a heavy, body-wide fatigue that feels like I'm being smothered and it comes in waves throughout my (attempted) runs. My resting heart rate feels fast and faint. I suspect it will take some time for my body adapt to new demands, but does anyone out there have advice for a maintaining athletic performance along with a more active lifestyle?

lporter229

Well, unfortunately, the best thing you can do for your body right now is to give it the rest it is screaming for. It sounds like you are experiencing the symptoms of over training which can be compounded by the physical and mental stress of life changing events like this. You can actually lose athletic performance and do long term damage to your body if you try and push too hard. If you are biking and walking daily, that may be all your body needs right now. Enjoy a little down time and allow it to catch up to the new demands you are putting on it. You will know when you are ready to ease back into your current routine.

richln

Classic signs of overtraining. Cut down on the activity or get a whole lot more carbs. With all the changes in your life right now it is difficult to accurately assess your calorie needs, so it would be better to overestimate your calorie need than to underestimate it.