I’m still very much a beginner, only having started running in May. Prior to that I did essentially nothing at all endurance-wise, so my fitness is still very low. I keep the vast majority of my workouts pretty slow, in zone 2, as I understand I should. Last month I got to the point where I could run 5k very comfortably, feeling like I had barely exerted myself. But I just went off to college, and I can barely run anymore! I struggled running 5k a couple days ago, and when I went out today, I couldn’t run a quarter mile without stopping. My pace hasn’t changed for zone 2 workouts, I still run at the same time of day (morning), and the terrain is flatter than what I’m used to. I have some hypotheses as to what the problem is:
I have went from a pasta, fruit, and vegetable heavy diet to a diet of plain chicken breast and salad. Should I go back to eating a lot of pasta and little meat? I could conceivably do it, it’s just not as convenient, which is why I haven’t.
Is it just the stress of the huge change? Should I give my body and mind a couple weeks to acclimate?
I walk about 2 - 3 miles a day from classes to dorms and vise versa. Would that impact anything so significantly?
Any help would be much appreciated.
(P.S. I have my bike here, but just for a little while till I settle in, I’ve decided not to ride. Just for hassle sake. Also, I don’t swim (yet), but I will start soon. Again, I haven’t yet for hassle sake.)
I have went from a pasta, fruit, and vegetable heavy diet to a diet of plain chicken breast and salad. Should I go back to eating a lot of pasta and little meat? I could conceivably do it, it’s just not as convenient, which is why I haven’t.
**Why the diet change? As an endurance athlete, carbs should anchor your diet. You don’t have to resort to pasta to get carbs. **I’m no anti-wheat zealot, but I rarely eat pasta because there are more nutritious options: fruit, sweet potatoes, yam, oats, legumes…
Is it just the stress of the huge change? Should I give my body and mind a couple weeks to acclimate?
I think that this is the most likely factor. Whether you awknowledge it or not, starting university (especially as a freshman) is incredibly stressful. Psychological and physical stress (i.e. training) are not independent; they are highly interconnected. I learned this the hard way when I tried to run varsity XC in my first year. The combined stress of school, residence, new diet and sports put a very short end to my season (like 2 weeks!). Yes, take some time to acclimate, training daily but lightly. Ramp it up once you feel comfortable. Same goes for midterms and finals.
I walk about 2 - 3 miles a day from classes to dorms and vise versa. Would that impact anything so significantly? Doubt it.
Feel free to ask other questions or PM me. I just graduated and, although superficially I appeared to be a high achiever, I really had a pretty wretched time and hated every minute. I’m happy to share whatever “wisdom” I may have picked up along the way so that others can enjoy the experience more.
But I just went off to college, and I can barely run anymore!
Hmm, what’s changed? Two ideas:
(1) Any possibility you’re doing more sprints between the keg and the bong? I’m a firm believer in these kinds of high-intensity workouts, but you need to schedule in time for recovery.
(2) Or maybe you’re just not getting 8 hours of quality sleep anymore?
Numbers 1 and 2 seem more likely influences than number 3.
If you truly are that deficient in carbs, your energy and training) will surely take a hit.
Environmental stressors and changes are often underestimated in their impact.
One important question: Exactly why were you stopping at 1/4 mile? Pain, breathing, body fatigue, sleep deprivation (fatigue from insufficient sleep), mental …fatigue.
Precisely, why are you stopping ? This will be a better bit of info to possibly id the problem (s).
Check altitude difference. Was in Albuquerque, NM on business and did a morning run. Ugh! Really bad time. Realized later that Albuquerque is a mile high. Time was fine when back home at sea level.
“Really weak” sounds like a central energy issue (fatigue and /or limited cho ingestion) and “about to explode” sounds a bit contradictory ? People usually use the latter to describe the feeling after hard intervals or high intensity which doesn’t apply here.
Your plan sounds good- keep moving and stabilize and all should be well.
I have went from a pasta, fruit, and vegetable heavy diet to a diet of plain chicken breast and salad. Should I go back to eating a lot of pasta and little meat? I could conceivably do it, it’s just not as convenient, which is why I haven’t.
If that is not exaggerated, and the majority of your calories are actually coming from chicken breast and salad then that would be a HUGE problem and the most likely cause. I would bet money on it.
Go back to eating your old diet and you’ll probably see a huge difference.
a few years ago i had an allergic reaction to some food. It wasn’t immediate, but for the next week (after I ate it) I was DEAD tired, legs super heavy/tired, no energy to run. Took me a couple months before I figured it out.
Or it could be stress. A lot of times that will show up in weird ways and when you ‘pile’ it on it can have similar affects to training.
Go back to eating a few more carbs (pasta) on a regular basis and see how you feel.
Thanks everyone. I just went to the grocery store and got a ton of whole grain pasta, quinoa, brown rice, beans, bananas, and oatmeal. Now I have to figure out how to cook it all in a microwave.