I’m finding that it’s hard to be motivated lately.
A little background on me; I did New Orleans 70.3 this year. I had no problems working out in the early winter months for that race. I had clear goals of beating my friend who has beat me 17 times in a row and finishing sub 5. I did both and was motivated after the race.
I recently got sick and that just knocked me on my butt. Work has been really stressful and I did a few 20 hour days last week.
Yesterday I was supposed to do a 56 mile bike but cut it to 2x20 and put out about 20-30 less watts than I should have been able to for each interval. My running has kinda plateaued recently and I haven’t been swimming. Swimming is always the first to go when I loose motivation. Previously when I’ve been unmotivated I’ve just had to take a day off and I feel better. I’ve been resting a lot and still haven’t been bouncing back.
So I think my lack of motivation is from a few things. First, I don’t have a hard IM goal besides finish which I know I can do right now. This is my first IM and everyone says don’t talk about times or finish times. My brain tells me who cares if you go sub 11, sub 12, or sub 13, it really doesn’t matter that much. With that sorta thinking it’s hard to run those extra miles or do those long rides.
I think another reason for being unmovitavated is my decreased performance. The problem is I don’t know if it’s from being over trained because I was sick or if it’s undertrained because I was sick… I know that sounds funny but I’m not sure if I worked out too much or two little when I came back at it.
I am excited to race this year, but I’m REALLY looking forward to focusing on Olympic distance after CdA is done and doing some speed work. Maybe since CdA is so close I should just start training for Oly distance and just forget about the long stuff. I still have an 18 and 20 mile run planned that I’m NOT looking forward too.
So I’m looking for some advice. Maybe some of you guys have felt the same way. How did you break through it?
take a week off man, you are worn out.
call it an early taper, ramp back up and youll be ready to race in june
I’m finding that it’s hard to be motivated lately.
A little background on me; I did New Orleans 70.3 this year. I had no problems working out in the early winter months for that race. I had clear goals of beating my friend who has beat me 17 times in a row and finishing sub 5. I did both and was motivated after the race.
I recently got sick and that just knocked me on my butt. Work has been really stressful and I did a few 20 hour days last week.
Yesterday I was supposed to do a 56 mile bike but cut it to 2x20 and put out about 20-30 less watts than I should have been able to for each interval. My running has kinda plateaued recently and I haven’t been swimming. Swimming is always the first to go when I loose motivation. Previously when I’ve been unmotivated I’ve just had to take a day off and I feel better. I’ve been resting a lot and still haven’t been bouncing back.
So I think my lack of motivation is from a few things. First, I don’t have a hard IM goal besides finish which I know I can do right now. This is my first IM and everyone says don’t talk about times or finish times. My brain tells me who cares if you go sub 11, sub 12, or sub 13, it really doesn’t matter that much. With that sorta thinking it’s hard to run those extra miles or do those long rides.
I think another reason for being unmovitavated is my decreased performance. The problem is I don’t know if it’s from being over trained because I was sick or if it’s undertrained because I was sick… I know that sounds funny but I’m not sure if I worked out too much or two little when I came back at it.
I am excited to race this year, but I’m REALLY looking forward to focusing on Olympic distance after CdA is done and doing some speed work. Maybe since CdA is so close I should just start training for Oly distance and just forget about the long stuff. I still have an 18 and 20 mile run planned that I’m NOT looking forward too.
So I’m looking for some advice. Maybe some of you guys have felt the same way. How did you break through it?
That sounds good but I’m afraid of loosing even more fitness. Plus it’s a three day weekend so I was thinking I could go extra long.
Maybe I should take this week off, do my long run of 18 miles monday then get back at it? I have a crit tonight that I want to do but I’m just working for some friends.
maybe just chill out till saturday and then bust out a huge weekend
That sounds good but I’m afraid of loosing even more fitness. Plus it’s a three day weekend so I was thinking I could go extra long.
Maybe I should take this week off, do my long run of 18 miles monday then get back at it? I have a crit tonight that I want to do but I’m just working for some friends.
At a month out from an IM you’re at a tough stage; I remember feeling the same way in late July before IMC. Just a few weeks to go before tapering. The fitness you have built up over the last months does not go away so quickly that a few days off will materially affect it but it can do a world of good for you mentally.
Or, you can try the other trick I’ve used and make doing the workouts that you don’t feel motivated to do as much a test of mental perseverance as physical conditioning.
I think this is all about being clear with your goals and balancing what you feel like doing today/this weekend vs. what you want to accomplish this season. Take out some paper and write down what you really want to do. Do you even want to do Ironman? Is the distance important to you? Or are you more concerned with getting faster at shorter distances? It’s up to you which pursuit is more worthwhile. Just be honest with yourself.
Also, i don’t know if it seems like you really need time off as much as you might just need a break from the long stuff. If you are really excited about doing speedwork, then just do some shorter, faster workouts. It’s not going to kill your endurance and with a sub 5 half under your belt, you are definitely fit enough to do Ironman so don’t worry about killing yourself with the hours if you’re not feeling it. The most important thing is making that decision for a precise reason and then you won’t have to second-guess yourself.
You have to find a balance between just doing what you feel like doing because you’ll enjoy it more and just straight up putting in the hours for the longer stuff because you want to be an Ironman. It’s unrealistic to expect every second of training (especially when you’re talking about long hours of ironman training) to be enjoyable. At the same time, you should take pride in putting in the work and being determined even if it’s not something you’re totally looking forward to. That’s what makes it all the more worth it when you get to the finish line and can say to yourself you pushed through. Cliche to say this but, “if ironman was easy…” you know how it goes. To me that quote isn’t just about the race day itself…
Succeeding, whether it’s finishing Ironman or getting faster at shorter distances, isn’t just measured by race day performances. Step back and look at the overall picture. 13 hours this season might be something you can be really proud of knowing you had to put in ridiculous hours at work and deal with other obstacles, etc leading up to the race. Even if you know you could have been faster if you had better “life conditions” leading up to the race, the fact is that we have to do the best that we can given our overall situations, and to me, that’s how you have to look at your racing. It’s more than just swim, bike, run… there are a million other factors.
I think you just need to sit down, get clear with yourself, and write down your goals and what you want to accomplish. Then when you start asking yourself questions… do i really feel like doing this ride… do i really feel like running this long… you’ll know why you’re doing it and it won’t be such a mental drain. If you feel like taking a few days off just do it… it won’t hurt. Otherwise you just need to remember why you are a triathlete and remember to have fun with it.
Ummm…I’m no expert but since you are looking forward to doing speed work, why don’t you bag your IM plan for a couple of weeks and just hit it fast. If you’ve already built a huge base and “know” you can finish the IM, why not work on some speed…actually I’m pretty sure thats what you should be doing at this point in your training. Pretend that you are focusing on the Olys for a couple weeks until it is time to taper…maybe just before taper you will be down for that 18 -20 miler…if not who cares it probably isn’t going to make or break your IM. I would say get a few days of rest to make sure you are #1 healthy, then spend a day doing something non-tri related you really find fun or haven’t had time for with the 20 hour days and IM training. After that hit Oly training for 2 weeks. Hopefully you’ll be jazzed for the IM by then.
Your power is way down, motivation is down
I would take 7 days off, mix it up, hike, swim, walk, jog with no HRM, etc. and see how you feel.
If you are not meeting/reaching/exceeding your goals, you are probably not doing anything useful. If I go out and do a 2x20 and I’m xx watts down, I would quit on the spot.
That’s what I was thinking. Normally when my motivation lacks I just HTFU and end up busting out a killer workout. But this time my performance is actually going down on the bike, but I just don’t know if I should workout more or less.
I have a crit after work that I really want to do. It’s just a local one for fun and I should probably be up one class higher than I am so i think I’m just going to get on the front and try to see if I can put out a lot of power and pull everyone around and make it a fast race.
If my power sucks again I’ll pack it up until sat and see how I feel during a local “drop ride” which is a 2 hour high intensity ride.
So maybe a rule of thumb is this:
Motivation Down + Performance same/up = HTFU
Motivation Down + Performance Down = Rest
I’ll just use the race tonight to make sure my performance is really down.
Im doing CdA as well it is also my first. Just know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and you dont want to let all that work this year go to waist in the last month. Your body will thank you on race day. Best of luck!!!
I am not an expert but was in a similar position a few weeks before Cali 70.3 this year. Training had been going great and I was improving all 3 disciplines, but then a few weeks out motivation + performance plateaued and then plummeted. Outside factors (besides training stress) included long hours/days at work, plus I was planning our wedding (which took place 4/26). Looking back, I think I ended up over-reached not from the training itself but from the confluence of all the outside factors as well. I pushed through and had a lackluster race in Cali. We just got back from our honeymoon, two weeks where my husband and I ran a couple of times, hiked a lot, and that’s about it. After a week of getting back into structured training I feel strong and motivated again - I thought it would take a month to get up to speed. I didn’t realize how much i just needed to rest, not HTFU and push through. My point here, since you mentioned a few 20 hour work days, is don’t underestimate the toll that outside stress and lack of sleep are having, especially if you are doing IM training volumes. A few days/week of ‘rest’ (meaning some light workouts but not killing it) should do wonders to get you back to your usual self, and won’t really have much of an impact on your fitness.
Good luck with your training and have fun at CDA!
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems a bit odd to see crits and 2hr high intensity rides within the context of training for your first IM…especially in the final few weeks.
It’s tough enough to go long or go fast, never mind both, and with the outside stressors you mentioned, I suspect that could be a big part of your burnout.
Forget trying to “bust out a killer workout”, do a few days of low intensity, moderate distance stuff and then see how you feel. You only have two more weeks to get through, do them at easy to moderate intensity, pay attention to your recovery strategies and you’ll probably be fine.
My hat is off and I appreciate you having a pair to make that post.
I am struggling with the exact same thing. This is my first Ironman, I’ve been doing base training for what seems like forever. I have done 3 HIM’s and a full Mary, all without taking much time off afterwards. For me, the bottom fell out when I did a century this weekend in 85 degree heat, had no motivation to run off the bike, and then got my Son’s stomach bug the next day. I had to skip my long swim Sunday, could’nt do anything Monday, and could barely make it through a 10k run yesterday. So anyway, just wanted to let you know you aren’t the only one dealing with lack of motivation. I seriously let the thought “screw it, i’m done with two-a-days, centuries, and 20 mile runs. I’m just going to show up” run through my head.
I assume training over-extended or exhausted is about as worthwhile as training sick, so do what you have to do to get your body back and willing to work.
For me it has been forced rest. I will try to push again today, but who knows. The thought of high-fiving 500 people on Sherman ave. is about the only thing keeping me going at this point…well, and being able to wake up at 8am, cook my family some eggs and pancakes, and chill out for the rest of the day. Doing that instead of waking up at 5am, rolling out by 6 to do a 100 mile bike and 6 mile run sounds like heaven.
So no worries…we’ll get through it. We wont quit, we have come too far.
Best of luck to you. I will see you there. At sub 5 we sound like we could be finishing around similar times.
The way I’m looking at the time between now and the race is this: we have two more big weekends of training before the 3 week taper festivities begin. I am breaking it up to tell myself that my longest run is this weekend and longest (or one of my longest) is next weekend. No more monster weekends (that was last weekend with a 101 ride Saturday and 18 run on Sunday). For me, the prospect of “only” have to run long or ride long each of the next two weekends makes it seem much better. I will still be doing the other on each weekend, but not biking as far this weekend and not running as far the next.
Can you maybe approach it that way? Are there any fun “events” coming up in your area that you can do to shake things up? There is an organized ride in my hometown on June 6th (2 weeks out, so first taper long ride). They have one whole ride a year and I’m excited to do it, and will be riding the 70 mile route. By that point in my training I might not want to ever see my bike again, but the change of routine and scenery has me looking forward to it.
This weekend I’m heading out of town to Austin to train there, again for a welcomed change of scenery (and hills…).
The weekday workouts will be whatever they end up being. If I run 4 miles instead of the 6 that is on my schedule for any given day, I won’t sweat it. I wil be glad I have such a base from the last however many weeks/months of training and know that in the long run, 2 miles isn’t going to make or break me at all.
Thanks everyone. I just used that crit as a workout last night and put up some numbers that are more my style than Monday. That helps a little. There was also a few jerks who yelled at me who I want to crush now and that helps a lot :).
I was thinking of doing world’s toughest in auburn in two weeks and just doing the oly to change it up and maybe have a good long day the day before. I wouldn’t get as much distance but I would like to do that more than a 20 mile run :). I also have the choice of doing the half and just doing it at a weekend workout pace and using it as my last big workout. What do you guys think of that?
I’m trying to switch stuff up too. A 50m outdoor local pool just opened so I think i’m going to make my return to swimming in that tonight. I have an 8 mile run today at lunch at a moderate pace which I dont think will be too bad at all.
I’m glad monday is a holiday so my 18 mile run doesn’t seem so tough.
With my performance yesterday I think my lack of motivation is more mental than physical. I think that bad ride monday was due to the last week of work but I think I’m good now (I hope). To get an idea of the difference in power my first 20 min interval of Monday’s workout was 270 watts. In the crit for the first 20 min I did 300 watts with a normalized power of 330. So that brings my spirits back up a lot.
I’m kind of in the same boat as you, I did IMAZ last April and with the conditions I really didn’t have “fun” although it was still a great experience. I want to start focusing on the HIM and shorter races and don’t really plan to do any more IM’s after CDA. I was tired and took most of last week off and feel much better this week. We did a 100mi ride on Sat in 100+ degree weather and a 20mi run on Sunday and I felt good on both since I had really relaxed during that week. My plan is really to train to make CDA a good experience and have fun this time! I personally say if you dont feel like doing 20 don’t do it, you probably don’t need it anyway, just do 15 or so and maybe throw in an extra short run during the week.
As far as fitness you really wont loose any by taking a week off or at least easy. I’m using Training Peaks this year and it shows your overall fitness, yeah you can gain some by doing more but you will loose very little by taking a week off. The week off will also get you energized to put some good miles in before your taper.
Welcome to IM training. I’ve gone through this for each one. I sucked it up because I knew taper was coming. Don’t over think it, just do it. Get extra sleep, eat enough high quality calories and protein so your body can recover from each workout and know the training is almost over.
I disagree with the week off. You are in the final stage of training, sealing the deal so to speak. You are burnt out but that is to be expected. Taper will get you rested up.
Disclaimer: I’m not a coach but this is what I have done and I’ve been glad I did it. I’m also very slow but still go through the same training hours as the fast ones.
Dude, I’m in the same boat. I’m doing CdA also and this is my first IM. I have been really motivated up until the last couple of weeks. I’m not quite as bad as you seem to be, but can feel your pain. I saw another post that said to push through the workouts and use that as Mental Perserverence Exercise. That’s what I’ve been doing. I also recently got a stomach virus and was down for a couple of days. Took a lot out of me, but I’ve bounced back ok. I had to cut my 100 miler down to a 73 miler last Saturday because of horrible weather and I really needed to finish it for confidence reasons, but alas…wasn’t able to. Anyway, try to stay focused and remember…unless your vying for a paycheck at the end of the race, its all just for fun. In the end, you’ll say you did an IM and hopefully you’ll say that you had fun doing it. I’m hoping for a 12 hour finish, but there are so many variables that can come into play that you have to expect the unexpected and be ready to accept it and have fun in the process. Good luck at CdA and I’ll toast you at the end (do the same for me!)
IM CDA will be my first IM as well and about a week and a half ago I was hitting the skids. I was coming off of a pretty decent open half mary (1:27) and had a 17 mile run scheduled the weekend after. The last 4-4.5 miles was an absolute death march, but I pushed through it. I am a believer that in training for a big race, you have to suffer once or twice like that in training. After this effort I was in the dumps mentally and physically. I took a couple days off, then took it easy during the week and went long the that weekend. My 18 mile run that sunday was great.
Bottom line, I couldnt agree more with Kathleen (**KWTriGrl **). Take the week easy and gear up for the weekend long stuff. You are almost there. My plan is a 5.5hr ride this Saturday with a 20m run on Sunday. Then next weekend is 6hr ride, Oly distance Tri with 45min cool down run after. Then its TAPER TIME!!! Look at it as 2 hard weeks then rest. You can make it considering how far you have come. Thats the way I’m approaching it to get through it mentally.