Training & Nutrition - overtrained? overthinking?

just looking for a bit of advice and insight here, since often with analyzing my fitness i end up in circles.

here's the deal- started this racing season off great- feeling pretty great, and in the first 3 months of racing finished in the top 10/top 15 of every race i was in- some of them being quite difficult. i've done about 14 since the beginning of march, and in the last 3 (which were somewhat easy compared to the other races so far), i haven't been able to make it past 10 miles/laps of any given road race/crit without completely dying. some of it is physical, i am sure- like my body just CAN'T. but also i cant reason with myself to deal with the pain of navigating a typical 3/4 pack flying at 36 miles an hour around corners- i actually say "i don't want to do this- i don't want to deal with this pain right now". i don't have any of the "typical" signs of overtraining- my sleep schedule is like clockwork, my resting heart rate is normal upon recovery.

can anyone share some similar experiences?

I don't race, but I find a similar thing with normal riding. In the spring, I can put up with lots of discomfort and hard miles to get fitter, but come summer (like you, about 3 months after starting to ride hard) it's like my body thinks that because it put all that effort in during the spring, everything should be easy, and it it isn't easy, it can't be bothered. As though riding up hills has become a chore rather than a challenge. Sometimes this psychological barrier goes by itself, but I've found the best way is to do some different kind of riding, or have a complete break for a week or so until you're desperate to get back on the bike because you miss it so much.

that's a lot of early season racing. and the early results are supurb!!
but like yogi berra once said (albeit about baseball): this sport is 50% physical and 90% mental.

where is the periodization?

how about just tooling around and looking at the trees for a couple of rides. be a tourist. that always does it for me.

i get the same thing coming out of my indoor winter program into the spring season. it is hard to mentally make the transition after getting 'used' to being in 72 degree controlled climate into the (today 31 degrees @ 5:30am ride) cold of upper midwest riding. once i get through the first month i am good.

I think you're doing too much too soon.

You're definitely going to peak, and it's going to only go downhill if you haven't structured your training program so that you can peak multiple times during your season (3- 4 times would be nice).

If you cut back with the racing right now and allow for some quality recovery time, then gradually build back up to your current levels. When you return to them, race about half as much as you are right now, and you'll be able to do much better with your racing and do well with your racing.

Koffee