Fatigue Fun…Oi. – Taper Phase | Run 2 (Aerobic Endurance/Strength)

My Road to TOWaterfront 42K

Tired all day. The shift to late-day running always takes me a session or two to recalibrate. I sipped some Nuun before heading out, My Drummer Buddy on board, cadence steady.

Not entirely sure if my chest strap HRM synced – the data might be from the Forerunner 235’s optical sensor. Either way, HR felt high, and RPE agreed. Another “preferably hilly” route, another chance to remind myself that fatigue can coexist with focus.

The hills asked questions. I answered with rhythm.

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🌡️ Conditions

Metric	Value
Time of Day	5:22 PM
Temperature	14 °C
Humidity	52 %
Feels Like	11 °C
Wind	20 km/h NNW

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📊 Metrics – Plan vs Execution Actual

Metric	Planned	Execution Actual
Duration	1 : 00 : 00	1 : 00 : 01
Distance	N/A	8.70 km
Avg Pace	7 : 10 /km	6 : 54 /km
rTSS / hrTSS	76 / N/A	87 / 68
IF (Pace / HR)	0.83 / N/A	0.89 / 0.79
Avg / Max HR	N/A	148 / 163 bpm
Pa:HR	N/A	2.89 %
Elevation Gain / Loss	N/A	184 m / 207 m
VAM / VAM W·kg⁻¹	N/A	184 m h⁻¹ / 0.93
Cadence (avg / max)	N/A	165 / 178 spm
NGP (min/km)	N/A	6 : 42 /km

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🔍 What the Numbers Say

• Avg Pace 6:54/km vs plan 7:10/km → slightly brisker, but solidly aerobic – you didn’t overreach.
  
• Pa:HR 2.89 % → nearly flat drift; that’s high efficiency even under fatigue.
  
• rTSS 87 vs planned 76 → modest overage, consistent with stronger mechanical rhythm than HR effort.
  
• IF 0.89 (pace) → taper freshness showing.
  
• Elevation Gain 184 m → enough muscular tension to preserve hill strength without stress.
  

Everything says “controlled sharpness.” Fatigue was in your head more than in your legs.

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🎯 Coach’s Corner

Goal: 60-minute aerobic endurance run on rolling terrain to maintain muscular tension and rhythm during early taper.
Execution: ✅ Hit the mark.
Evening fatigue made RPE feel heavier, but performance metrics suggest solid aerobic stability. Minimal Pa:HR confirms recovery adaptation is underway.

Observation: HR slightly inflated (likely from optical source), but cadence and pace confirm effort stayed right in Z2.

Coach Note:
Fatigue at this stage isn’t a red flag – it’s the body absorbing months of work. The data says recovery rhythm is setting in.

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💬 Takeaway

The legs did their job, the beat stayed steady, and fatigue just rode shotgun.

Tapering isn’t about feeling fresh every run – it’s about learning to trust that the freshness is loading.