How do you handle triathlon burn out? Yes, I understand this is a highly individualized question, and yes I understand I am probably flirting with overtraining.
maybe take some time off?
well, that’s the obvious answer.
Well, I’ve learned that sometimes when you rest, injured things heal. So if it works for healing injuries, perhaps rest would work for other triathlon maladies.
What distances are you training for? Not everyone is suited for an IM or even a half IM.
Somehow try to remember this is all for fun. I felt this way so far after my last race. My bike times have been the worst all season.
My run times and distances have also been the worst. So, first I know I am still recovering from a hard race last weekend in the heat.
I also say who cares what the times or distances are, just do what feels good, and what ever happens in my next race in 2 weeks, who cares.
Dave
and probably the best one…
to add to the simple answer of taking some time off…maybe some more clarification is needed.
Is it all three sports that you’re sick of? The lifestyle in general? Or are you overly fatigued and/or injured? Or sick of the bike, the pool or your running shoes?
If there is one sport that’s getting you down, how about try a single sport focus for a while? Maybe a good time to concentrate on swimming. Or maybe do some road races on the bike…you get my drift.
Also look at the other stresses in your life (job, family), maybe that might be part of it. Might be a good time to devote attention to priorities other than multisport.
Frankly, I think this sport is too time-consuming and too hard to do if you don’t have a passion for it. If the passion is gone, take a break.
Don’t be too afraid of taking time off. I’m just a roadie but I had 4 months off and came back mentally/physically fresh and stronger than ever. All I did during this period was trail running with my dogs and single speed mtb biking a few times a week to stay active.
I was “off the front” during the weekly hammerfest after about 4 weeks back in the saddle. I was amazed how quickly I got my fitness back, just did a 300k with 10k of climbing in 12hours with only about 3500 miles on the road bike. Not too shabby and I’m no longer worried about taking months off.
I second the advice to look at other stresses in your life. I’m just coming back after about two years off. A long time, I know, but I got hit with a number of huge stresses that absolutely rocked the foundation of my life as I knew it then, and crumbled it to the ground. I’ve built it back up again, and it’s better than I ever dreamed… totally different, but better. Even so, it took every ounce of strength not to break down during that time and there was no energy left for anything else. I’m now finally eating right again and getting excited about triathlon. I still just sign up for races for fun, with no time or place expectation… easing back in slowly is what I know I need right now. Listen to your body and look at your life and your training schedule. You know whether you should just suck it up, or whether you really need some time off… be smart about it and do what you need to keep yourself healthy mentally and physically.
Take the time off. Yesterday was the first day I rode my bike since last October. I thought it was all over but for whatever reason it’s all coming back. Don’t be afraid to take a lot of time off. When you’re ready (and you will be) to get back into it you’ll start up again.
Good Luck!!!
Tom
I fifteenth everyone’s comments. Rest is the key to longevity in this sport. I also work in one day each week of letting my training diet completely go to the dogs. I’ve found that the notion of that one day keeps me committed to sticking to plan the rest of the days and when i finally get to “pig day,” I tend, for whatever reason, not to want to completely blow it out with cheese fries and bacon. Go figure.
I’m an RD, and added 2 major events this year. Coupled with a small child, I just didn’t have time to train the way I wanted to, and really didn’t want to spend as much time doing it. I was kinda fried after doing a bunch of IM’s…Training seriously started to “feel” like another job, and not for fun. So, I’ve decided to take the year off from tris (specifically IM), and focus on running, and doing a marathon, etc…I still ride, but haven’t been swimming since last October:) Now, I go out and run because it’s fun, and relieves stress. It was the opposite before. I’d go out to run, and had to make sure I threw in some fartleks, tempo, etc…
Remember why you do this stuff…I’m starting to get the itch again, which is a good thing. I love to train, but without the impending feeling of a big race, the training is just about being outside in the sunshine, and having a good time. No pressure…
Plus, now I’m fat and jolly:)
Good luck with this. It’s true, if you’re not enjoying it, don’t do it. Life’s too short. This is how you spend your free time. It’s supposed to be fun…
I’m starting grad school in the fall…an integrated program in dietetics, so my life of leisure is about to change.
I think training for shorter races helps keep you from burning out as does travelling to new races and trying to learn about the place you are going to travel to.