Fatigue puts up big fight

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Fatigue: I wish there were a better word for it.

It doesn’t sound as bad as it really feels. To me, it includes a headache, body aches, brain fog and general grouchiness.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a really tough time.

I felt totally awful. I ended up taking a day off of work after a long weekend of training.

I thought I could get through the day but ended up just having to come home and sleep. I slept for four hours.

I have been training on average 13½ hours per week. That’s a lot on top of my full-time job, kids’ practice schedules, husband’s commitments and organizing a household.

I have to say that my husband has really helped out a lot.

He’s been great about making dinners at night and getting the kids to where they need to be.

On Monday and Wednesday nights, I am gone most of the evening, so he is the main guy in charge of dinner, soccer and baseball practices, and homework.

I’m gone for at least three to four hours for my long bike ride Saturdays and at least two hours for my long run Sundays.

It’s been tough trying to squeeze in all of my workouts around everyone else’s priorities.

I don’t really have rest days/days off, and I really haven’t had a recovery week.

I spoke with Coach Greg about this and didn’t really get anywhere.

I was thinking that he would say, “Oh, I’m sure you’re really tired. You’re working full time, training, involved in your church … Why don’t you skip a workout or two and take a break?”

All I really got from him was,

“Okay. Yeah.”

No sympathy. No, “Take a break.” Nothing.

Alrighty then, guess I’ll just battle through.

Greg and I are starting to get to know one another’s styles more, and I’m guessing that he’s figuring me out.

He knew that I needed no sympathy and to just keep going.

It wasn’t easy, but the next week it was like my body just finally agreed that this was the course we were on.

Mind and body are finally on the same page.

My family and I have gotten into a groove of workout schedules and I am feeling much better.

My knees are sore and that is annoying, but I don’t need a “rest day.”

On days where I have only one workout scheduled, such as an hour easy run, it feels like it’s no big deal.

It’s great! I’m feeling stronger than ever.

I’m hoping this general feeling holds out when those 18 to 20 hour training weeks come along.

Stacey Parisi is a Seymour native and resident. Her columns will appear regularly in The Tribune as she trains to compete in Ironman Louisville 2015. Send comments to [email protected].

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