I had a pretty busy event schedule last year (7 Olympic events and one Ironman 70.3, three half marathons and one bike century with way too much climbing). In the prior four years I had only done running events including marathons so I went in deep my first year in triathlon. Toward the end of the year I backed off training and predictably gained poundage and lost fitness.
I ran a half marathon six weeks ago and my knee and left foot were not good. I quit running altogether to try to get both back and while the knee is okay the foot is still a problem. I’m swimming a mile once a week and doing one long (55+) and hard bike ride a week, getting into the gym maybe one other day for a spin class and doing minor core work at home a few times a week.
For the first Saturday in a long time I did nothing nada zero zippo. I’m here when I should be out there. The problem is that I don’t feel like being out there. I’ve cut down my race schedule this year to the referenced half marathon and 3 Olympic (including St. A’s and Nautica NYC) and one Ironman 70.3 events.
Yes its been cold outside but if I told you that I lived in Florida many would no doubt consider that a mjor wimp.
Other than abject fear of death (a bit dramatic) and pain in the events can anyone share any thoughts on regaining a good healthy attitude to training?
When I get into that mindset, I find it beneficial to take a break from structured training. Find a complimentary thing to do to keep fitness, and find out what you love in the sport again. Last year, I trained for 40kTTs and pure swimming events - yeah, not much different, but the focus on something new gave me the motivation to train in that particular sport. I enjoyed both so much, I’m doing the whole TT series, and am signing up for the 5k & the 10k Open Water Swim races.
I think what your going through happens to every athlete. I’ll second some advice on here and recommend you doing something related, but fun. Maybe take up some mountain biking or take a trip somewhere where you can xc ski.
Also, maybe a two week clean break would be good to reset your mindset.
First, change your Slowtwitch handle to “dontwannaride.”
Then, as others have said, go out the door with the objective of having fun. Don’t push yourself. Just enjoy cruising for a while. When the joy comes back (and it will), then you can kick it into gear again.
For the first Saturday in a long time I did nothing nada zero zippo. I’m here when I should be out there. The problem is that I don’t feel like being out there.
I agree with Bob C. Give yourself a couple days off and then train; you will feel rested, refreshed, and you’ll want to do it again.
BS, just rent Rocky 5 and watch on repeat until you either want to go outside and run through the snow with huge tree stump while Russians chase you in an old Mercedes or you jump off a tall building because it’s impossible to comprehend that Mr. Rambo got an academy award for the first Rocky.
Honestly, watch some motivating movies and then look at your first race for this year. Grab a calendar. Put on the calendar the race and what you want your weight, swim pace, bike pace, and run pace to be. Then work backwards week by week on how you think you can get there. When you get to today on the calendar, throw on the gear and do it. You have to, it says so on the calendar.
I went through the same thing my second year of tri’s. I found that with my 3 kids and work and just being busy I lacked the motivation to train like I should. I backed off on the races and just had fun. I got all my motivation back in year three and it is still there now.
You had an aggressive first year of tri’s so it may be natural to be a little burnt out. LIke others have said switch up you training and remember to have fun!
I’ll echo what everyone here has already stated. Do the workouts, but do them at cruise speed, i.e., just relax and look around (as safely as possible).
Hope it gets better for you. Not too good to go into “fuck this shit” mode so early in the year
I feel you. I’m in Tampa and the weather has been the pits. Sub 40 degree morning, lots of wind and rain. I haven’t ridden my motorcycle to work in a couple months.
My job was going to lay me off last year, so I eliminated racing to save money. Then they kept a bunch of us around, but cut our pay big time, so I can’t even AFFORD to go racing. No racing= no real motivation. I run 3x a week because I love running. I would ride more if the weather would cooperate. I’m not riding the trainer much if I’m not training. Not worth it. Fortunately, I’ve been active enough to only put on 5 pounds or so in the last year and a half. But I know I couldn’t go out there and be competitive. Oh, well.
BS, just rent Rocky 5 and watch on repeat until you either want to go outside and run through the snow with huge tree stump while Russians chase you in an old Mercedes or you jump off a tall building because it’s impossible to comprehend that Mr. Rambo got an academy award for the first Rocky.
That would be Rocky 4 with the Russians in it Rocky 3 was on the treadmill TV at the Y a while ago. Made it more bearable for sure!
I can’t handle huge busy triathlon race seasons year after year after year. Usually when I don’t feel motivated I just do a couple of races if that or do trail runs, mountain biking, climb 14ers, Ultimate, etc. It seems like I have about a 4 year cycle. Train non-tri centric aerobic for 2 years, move toward tri centric for a year, then have a huge tri year.
When I get into that mindset, I find it beneficial to take a break from structured training. Find a complimentary thing to do to keep fitness, and find out what you love in the sport again. Last year, I trained for 40kTTs and pure swimming events - yeah, not much different, but the focus on something new gave me the motivation to train in that particular sport. I enjoyed both so much, I’m doing the whole TT series, and am signing up for the 5k & the 10k Open Water Swim races.
Good moves.
As triathletes we have a pretty big box to work with, because we do three different sports. What I find odd about so many triathletes is that they want to shrink that box down and only tri train to some set schedule. It’s good to keep the box big or look completely outside the box. Many newer triathletes, who did not come from another sport would be well served to really immerse themselves in one sport(swimming, cycling or running) for 3 - 6 months - really get into that sport and become the best you can at that sport.
Too often I see this obsession to tri train on these locked down schedules, and to keep moving up in distance - going almost immediately to half a nd full IM racing within a year or two. Take your time. Learn each sport and train for each sport well and possibly in that sport only for a time. This keeps the interest level up and hopefully the motivation.
Oh yeah… definitely back off on some of those pack/travel/setup/race/breakdown/travel/unpack ‘got da T’ races. They’ll be around next year. If u’r susceptible to burnout, I’d try more training with the buddies for fun and pick a couple of ‘races’ to focus on. Just my experience.
My trick…just remember how much money I’ve ‘invested’ in tri gear. Gonna get every penny out of it!
I used to go with the $1 = 1 mile as a gauge to justify my spending/motivate my training. It does not work so well when gear is (mostly) gratis. Now, the cool gear alone is enough to get me motivated, and when I can’t get motivated, I make sure I get motivated, and barring that, I just try to fake it.
