I have been struggling with my triathlon life for the last 3 years. I started racing in 1994 and until 2004 did not really take a big break at all. For a period in there, I trained every day for 2 years and never missed one day which was pretty good (easy days were very easy and hard days were hard and off days were just going out on the MTB for fun or hiking). In 2003 I did cut back with the racing and training but still had a lot of fun. In 2004 I was training but not really racing and just enjoyed being out there. I did a few small sprints and did really well. 2006 was very tough for me in terms of training and racing. I was very un-motivated to train and decided that all I had to do was pick a few races, sign up and get ready. I did a sprint tri and won my age group but this still did not motivate me, which 5 years earlier, I would have trained my ass off to win again. After that age group win last year, I have barely trained at all. This year I signed up for a half and just did not show up. I did have some problem with PF early in the year but I just did not want to get up and swim or run. I was riding a fair bit but there was no way I was getting up in the morning to swim.
I thought that there was something wrong and went to the doctors a few months back. I was tested for everything under the sun and came back a very health person. I was diagnosed with mild depression which I find funny as I am the most happy go lucky guy and I am very very happy with my life. The reason that it came back as mild depression was because I was sleeping a lot, not motivated to train, was taking naps and a lose of appetite. While I am not sure about this diagnosis, I have decided to start to train again this week but at a very low level as to where I was before.
I think it can be easy to burn out, over train, over reach in this sport. I know that this is probably why I am not training today as much as I would like to. I love triathlon but when the body say no friggin way, I tend to listen.
I had a few burnout scenarios but it wasn't mainly due to just training although that was a factor. I doubt that many people would burn out if all they had to do was train(I'm not targeting the pros here, just fictional people who trains and have no other responsibility) I actually get this way quite often and sometimes ask why I keep going back. However, all it takes is a reminder of what people can do if they really want something and I'm back in my saddle. Full time school, full time work, full time SAR K9 handler and add on the hours of training, it just makes you wanna do nothing. However, when I do nothing, I feel guilty and restless.
How do I get out of it? Like I mentioned before, a reminder of the human spirit does it, whether it’s a movie like Rudy or Iron Will(awesome movie), I’ll feel better and start training again-albeit after a week of casual riding, jogging and splashing around in the pool with friends.
I did in 2005 on a diet of insane back-to-back races on no training. I did some races I had no business doing. I felt invincible at the time, but when burnout hit, it hit hard. I knew I was burned out when I found myself going to a cool and dark corner of the gym to either sleep or stretch… for a week straight. I have never really bounced back since, in the strictest sense of the term.
The beauty was: the burnout allowed me to deepen my yoga practice in a way that was not possible before. I consider this a positive development in my life. These days I consider myself more of a yogi than a triathlete even though I continue to swim, bike, and run on a (semi) regular basis.
a few years ago I was pretty burnt out. I decided to take the whole following year off from racing or training hard. I continued to swim, bike and run but just when I wanted and for fun. It was a smart decision.
You need to back off from your training, IMMEDIATELY. Don’t worry about losing fitness, that won’t really start to happen until after a week or so; and in that week, take it easy, do nice things - if guilt assails you, go for a walk. Accept that your absolute best in your Oly and Timberman can only be achieved by taking it easy now. You know about overtraining/burnout. You may not know that your body is stressed in all sorts of subtle ways - if you take it easy RIGHT NOW, you might be in time to stop the worst hormone and enzyme imbalances. When you really want to get back to training because it’s FUN rather than something you need to do, EASE back into it. Rest is training too, and right now it’s the only kind for you. If you need a goal to keep you focused, try watching an entire season of some fave tv show! With the dvd extras. In Spanish. j
I think you’re right, I will definitely be taking your advice.
The last thing I want to do is show up at a race not feeling fresh and ready to rock and roll. Anyone who’s done that knows its the worst feeling. I’d rather lose 1-2% of fitness by taking this week off and show up fresh, than show up and race at only 50% of my ability.
Sometimes I need to hear the obvious from Slowtwitch, even when it really is obvious. Thank you.
Good, you’re welcome. Perhaps you could head over to my Womens Hot Legz Contest thread in your spare time and rescue it? They are butchering it over there…
I don’t know if I’m burnt, but I’ve essentially taken this entire year off from racing and tri-training. Did very little to no training of any kind for nearly a month, starting back up with the running regime about 30 days ago. Figure I will focus on that for a while and then jump back into tris for next year.
For me, I’ve been at this sport off and on since the mid 1980s…trained and raced feverishly from 1985 until 1990, then didn’t race for another couple years, got back into it and did IMC in 1994 and 1996, then took off until 2000 and trained and raced pretty hard from then until last year. And now, looking at this as a life-long endeavor I’ve stepped back again—if I start back up next year, great…if it takes until 2009 0r 2010, so be it.
Though I will say while out on yesteray morning’s run, a biker rode by me and I thought “man, I am starting to miss that…” So it may be sooner rather than later.
But for anyone going through it, hang in there, don’t press or force the action or the will…if you really love the sport, it’s okay to leave it just for a little while. It will be there when you come back.
Had a wretched case of burn out/“why I am doing this?” until recently. Granted, weather in south Texas has essentially sucked this summer, and constant in-doors training took its toll on the psyche, but getting out of town and riding with a good friend essentially did it for me; volunteering at a race didn’t hurt much, either.
The weather remains iffy, but I am renewed in my endeavors to ready myself for Tri 101. I know I won’t race as quickly as I had initially intended, but as long as I can have fun, both in training and in racing, I’ll consider it a victory.
Good luck on getting through your own burn out.//d
I’ve finally hit burn out this year after 20 years of tris(18 IMs) and 5 years of running prior to that. I did IM Lake Placid and Florida last year and just didn’t have any fun. It was a struggle. I started this year off with 8 weeks of radiation treatment for prostate cancer and that convinced me to take this year off from racing tris. At 56, my body needs a rest. I did sign up for IM Lake Placid next year. Hopefully the motivation returns after a year break. I’m still working out but it’s nice not training for an event. I hope to knock out 2 more IMs next year and then that’s it for IM. It’s time to stop abusing my body.
i agree with everyone on here that you just need a bit of a break. in addition to days off/easy days, make sure that you are setting yourself up for success in your workouts. now would not be the time to do a group ride with a group of fast guys, or to try and train after a night of little sleep. rest up, eat something that makes you feel good, and do something non-training related. if you take the rest now, both mentally and psysically, your season will be just fine because you have a huge training base from your hard five weeks, so don’t panic about time off.