Hi all,
I occasionally race XC and i'm doing two series this year. Unfortunately next week two races fall pretty close to each other!
I'm racing next Thursday evening (about 1hr - 1hr 15) followed by another race the following Sunday morning (about 1hr 30).
I'm really looking for tips and advice on how to recover as much as possible between the races. It's normally a good 4-5 days before I feel fresh again but I do commute 5 days a week by bike too (i'll drive to work next Friday most likely for a change).
For immediate recovery I use [url= http://www.totalcycling.com/en/Torq-Recovery-Drink-Powder---15kg/m-21503.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQjw7r-rBRDE_dXtgLz9-e4BEiQATeKG7KSArM6u8_H3x7D-2VCKvnBupm8B3jVE6L6bij74B0YaAmk68P8HAQ&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=Australia ]Torq Recovery[/url]
Rest, cool down stretch and eat well after that
What he said, protein shake, sugary drink, milk, anti oxidants, anything to get you recovered quicker. Avoiding alcohol helps too. Either that or massive excess so you don't feel the pain!
And take on energy during the racing too, saves having to do it afterwards.
Get's me through sailing races anyway, and that's usually three one hour back to back races on two days, so it can really start to hurt!
I spend a decent amount of time lying down, feet on a pillow to elevate them slightly.
anyway just don't get a bit ill and party in between
This 4 day fun finished on the Sunday
http://www.hellfirecup.com/
This one started on the Saturday
http://www.forrestfestival.com.au/
Needless to say the second one didn't go well
Blood bag, obvs! Use an old school milk bottle...everyone does it...maybe...
Eat lots of carbs. Enjoy them 🙂
The recovery I got from sleeping in a pair of tight (next lowest size) 2XU Elite compression tights was almost miraculous.
Skiing offpiste all week - completely shattered end of Thursday, even knees ached as I walked up stairs. Showered, slept in these, next day it was like my legs were brand new - skied all day, hiked up 2 mountains (40 mins a go) with my skis on my pack, and then skated along a path out of a valley at the end of the day and not weary at all.
If you take 4-5 days to recover IMO you are doing something wrong.
You shouldn't be fatigued as such, so while rest and stretching is important, some recovery riding will help too, with carbs and protein after the races to help.
Thursday to Sunday is a fair bit of recovery. As well as all the eating advice, make sure you get offering of sleep for a few days before the first and between the two.
cynic-al - Member
If you take 4-5 days to recover IMO you are doing something wrong.
I reckon we were doing 2 of those a day in the stage races 🙂
Easy ride Friday. Usual day before race ride Saturday. Should be fine, especially with races of that length. Feet up, rest, sleep, decent food, etc.
TurnerGuy - MemberThe recovery I got from sleeping in a pair of tight (next lowest size) 2XU Elite compression tights was almost miraculous.
I find compression tights awesome for making me feel better but they don't seem to have much actual impact on performance- my legs are still rubbered, they just don't feel awful. Still worth it, this, though it's led to a couple of embarassing incidents where the day after a big ride, I feel fine, go out with mates, discover I am actually crippled 😆
I find compression tights awesome for making me feel better but they don't seem to have much actual impact on performance
they really fixed me up completely - I was shocked. But I went down a size and they are pretty tight - I wouldn't go out in public in them as I might end up facing a public indecency charge.
Ice bath
Reckon you'll be alright? Same here, race Tuesday then again Friday. Tonight I'll have a stead turbo session just to iron out my legs.