When to throw in the towel on a training session (or race)

I had a couple of different requests for a blog subject, I am going to start with one that I think fits in well for this time of year. So, when to throw in the towel, and when to push through...

We'll start with when not to quit:

A) Right now, most of us in Michigan are about done with our triathlon season. We are entering what most would consider "running season" and then "off season". Come May, we are so excited to begin the tri season after months off with gloom and cold, but then September hits, and its tough to complete workouts. Thats a mental quit, not a physical quit... so in that instance, you DONT quit! This is the time where your hard work all season should be paying off, and it is also the time when your most likely to question yourself, your training, and your desire. Those of us who have been at this for a while know that its coming. And you need to learn how to push through. Many times, I have woke up, only to find I didnt want to work out, AT ALL, and came away with some of my best workouts ever. Sometimes you just have to mentally push through. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes ever, "the desire to quit will be strongest right before you are about to succeed". So so true

****Side note,for many of you next year doing your first IM, this will be one of the hardest parts of your training, mentally overcoming fatigue and desire some mornings after months of dedication. Its all part of the process, teaching your body to continue on in a fatigued state. Some think the training for a IM is harder than the IM itself... keep that in mind.

B) Another do not throw in the towel example is soreness. If you are starting a new phase, changing up some routines, or entering territory you have never been before (think your first long runs), then some soreness is normal. Then, you dont quit. Continue on, sometimes you will feel better after a few minutes of exercise and be just fine. (***If you are 20-30 minutes into a workout and the soreness is just getting worse and messing up your form too much, then you may have actually done some damage to the muscles that require a bit more time off, then it is ok to throw in the towel and let the muscles repair for a couple of days)

C) Your out for a long session, and halfway through you feel fatigued and like you dont want to continue. Now is not a time to stop, now is a time to use that to figure out what is going wrong. Is it nutrition and a simple stop at the store for fluids and calories? Are you dehydrated? Are you pushing too hard for a workout that should be "easy pace"? Have you taken in too much and need to stop taking in cals until your stomach settles? Now is the time to learn. Sometimes, its just about completing the workout also and fighting through those low times.


So there are three common examples of when not to quit. Here are a couple of examples when you SHOULD throw in the towel:

A) You are sick and cannot get into your desired zone and stay there without considerable effort. Once you are used to the zones, you know about how you feel in each zone, and if you cant get into the zone period or you feel you are working way too hard to be going so slow and things arent coming together, then you can throw in the towel. Sickness can really affect you if you have a virus and are running a temp. A common head cold normally wont do that, so you can head out if that is the case.

B) You are in pain, pain that could do damage. For instance, when I DNF'ed this year in my 5k, it was the same knee I had surgery on only a couple of months before, gave me a bad sensation and pain... you stop for that. Or, you feel like you have potentially torn something or a knee, ankle or hip is hurting too bad to continue without doing more damage, you stop.

C) I'll throw this one in for good measure.... your significant other is feeling extremely neglected for the last few months of you being on top of it all and completing all your workouts therefor only seeing them when you are eating your food (and theirs sometimes), or sleeping, and they ask you to take a night off to spend with them.. you throw in the towel on that workout that night ;)

Reality is, missing one or two workouts every now and then will not hurt you. Missing one a week, or one or two a month, etc, adds up. Especially if it is key sessions you are missing. Consistency is by far the best tool in your training endeavors, so keep that in mind the next time you just dont feel like it, but really have no reason not to go out for that training session. Most of the time you will feel much better once you just get the workout over with!

Here is a blog post from the male winner of IMWI this past weekend, this is along the lines my C) answer of when you dont throw in the towel. Talk about a great comeback, winning overall, with a great time of 8:45 after knowing you were in trouble within the first few minutes!!

(copy and paste into another window)
http://www.trizone.co.za/news_article.asp?ID=131&MicrositeID=2