Help with possible overtraining...

[fatgrosshog]

I don't have any classic signs of overtraining (injuries, constant fatigue, inability to sleep, irritability, etc.), but I really like to work out and I have a physical job, so I spend much of my day exercising. I've read stories about coaches who have their athletes cut their training programs in half and the athletes make big gains--is there a way to know whether that would be appropriate for me?

[hjs]

If you really are overtrained there is only one solution, take a real break and when you feel better again slowly build things up, overtraining does not come overnight and it also won,t go away overnight.
take a break from you normale routine, try to be active but only light, eat well, sleep wel, get in the sun if possibe....

[Montanaandy]

With rowing you will know whether you are overtraining if you begin to feel discomfort or pain during the stroke or your session. I have suffered various overtraining issues related to rowing over the years (back, knees and most recently elbow) but have always found that tapering off either normally through fewer rowing sessions does the trick and gives the body ample time to heal. I used to row 5-7 times per week and lately I have been rowing 2-4 since this is all that my 49 year old body will allow. Not as much as I would like but the best that I can do as the elbow continues to recover. I have tried to concentrate more on keeping my form correct which has helped with my times and the intensity level of the workout. Going more for quality than quantity at this point. Andy