# Any scientific base for lower than usual deloading during recovery weeks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Endurance Sport Science\ **Tags:** recovery\ **Created:** [October 1, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273 "2025-10-01T22:09:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![camargofernando](https://forum.athletica.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@camargofernando](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/camargofernando)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273/1 "2025-10-01T22:09:52Z")
I’m used to recovery weeks reducing the load by at least 20%, depending on fatigue, fitness and experience of the athlete some people reduce up to 50% the load. I know this is very individual and I know I can manually adjust my training on the platform (which I will do for sure). But is there a scientific reason / recent discovery that recommends milder de-loading on recovery weeks (eg. my recovery week is just 14% lower in load than the previous week). Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![kimberg](https://forum.athletica.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@kimberg](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/kimberg)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273/2 "2025-10-02T18:00:07Z")
While intensity was only 14% less, did the duration go down more than that? I’ve noticed that my taper weeks still have higher intensity, but many less hours fwiw to minimize fatigue. ---
**Author:** ![camargofernando](https://forum.athletica.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@camargofernando](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/camargofernando)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273/3 "2025-10-02T18:18:02Z")
Actually it was not the intensity that got 14% down. It was the load. So it’s a combination of all factors considered within intensity (power, HR, pace, speed, distance, duration, time in zones etc). Duration specifically declined slightly but I like to consider the load in general versus just intensity or duration. ---
**Author:** ![Marjaana](https://forum.athletica.ai/user_avatar/forum.athletica.ai/marjaana/32/4122_2.png) [@Marjaana](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/Marjaana)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273/4 "2025-10-06T17:57:40Z")
Is it your A , B or C race? ---
**Author:** ![camargofernando](https://forum.athletica.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@camargofernando](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/camargofernando)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273/5 "2025-10-06T18:12:50Z")
Hi Marjaana - the question was more around a regular recovery week, not tapering for a specific race. I know recovery weeks for different race priorities vary though. So to answer the question, it was a B race but after a few weeks I changed it to an A race. I didn’t see any significant changes to how recovery weeks are prescribed after changing it to an A race. ---
**Author:** ![Marjaana](https://forum.athletica.ai/user_avatar/forum.athletica.ai/marjaana/32/4122_2.png) [@Marjaana](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/Marjaana)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/any-scientific-base-for-lower-than-usual-deloading-during-recovery-weeks/4273/6 "2025-10-06T19:36:57Z")
Sorry, I totally missed it was a recovery week! Hard to say why your recovery week was 14% without actually looking at your plan. The recommendation of course is to listen to your body. If you need more reduced load, please override the plan. If you want me to look at your plan, happy to do so. PM me MJ