Recognizing Warning Signs of the Mid-Season Slump

Difficulty Sleeping: Not just trouble falling asleep, but restlessness and overheating at night, indicating your body is overworked and struggling to recover.

Plateaued Progress: If your training efforts aren't translating into performance improvements or you're experiencing unexpected performance dips, it’s a sign you may be overtraining.

Emotional Instability: Increased irritability and frustration can be indicators of physical and mental fatigue, often noticeable to friends and family before you realize it.

Elevated RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion): Workouts feel harder than usual, even at lower intensities, suggesting that accumulated fatigue is affecting your performance.

Erratic Morning Heart Rate: Significant fluctuations in your morning heart rate or heart rate variability indicate your body is under stress and struggling to recover.

Decreased Workout Performance: Inability to complete workouts or needing extended rest between intervals shows that your current training load is too high.

Lethargy and Low Motivation: A lack of enthusiasm for workouts you typically enjoy is a red flag that you're heading towards burnout.

Increased Susceptibility to Illness and Injury: Frequent aches, pains, and minor illnesses can signal that your body’s immune system is compromised due to excessive training stress.