I just had a terrible run this morning. And I’m a little worried. I planned on a 6-8 mile run this morning. I got good sleep…ate a little…it was beautiful out. I got about 2.5 miles into my run…and I just quit. I couldn’t go on.
But I don’t know why! I wasn’t THAT tired, sore, exhausted, whatever. I’ve run through much more pain, soreness, exhaustion, etc. But for the first time…I just mentally quit. It’s my like my mind said, “Nope, not gonna endure the discomfort of pushing myself today. F that.”
So I started walking. I tried to start up again…but I’d get maybe thirty seconds to a minute down the road…and I’d quit. Walk. Try to start up again…and again, I’d quit. It ended up being a 3.8 mile run in about 35 minutes, says my trusty Garmin…but I must have walked like the last mile or more.
Why couldn’t I just keep running? I’m very upset that my mind quit like that…not my body, I can handle it if my body just runs out of steam…but I can’t have my mind/will quit like that. Is this normal? Will this event make it easier for me to shut down like that in the future?
Sounds like you need some time off. This happens to me about mid-summer with riding. I don’t feel overtrained, I just lack the desire to get on my bike. I take about a week to a week and a half off the bike, and at the end of the week, I’m getting the itch to ride again.
This only happens to me when my body is sending my brain the message, “Dude, enough is enough!” I take a day off and head out again the next day. Usually that off day is enough for my body to find its groove and then my brain is a much more willing partner.
I have a terrible time running first thing in the morning. My HR is much higher for a given pace running in the morning than in the evening (or even a couple of hours after waking up). I’m not certain, but, for me, I think it has to do with getting dehydrated during the night. I now keep a waterbottle in the bathroom that I take a hit off when I get up to pee. But, I still don’t like running first thing.
I have a terrible time running first thing in the morning. My HR is much higher for a given pace running in the morning than in the evening (or even a couple of hours after waking up). I’m not certain, but, for me, I think it has to do with getting dehydrated during the night. I now keep a waterbottle in the bathroom that I take a hit off when I get up to pee. But, I still don’t like running first thing.
Steve
I wasn’t wearing my HRM today. But I typically do not have a problem running in the morning. And it didn’t feel like my heart was abnormally elevated or that I was out of breath. I do get dehydrated during the night a bit. But I usually get up well before my run and eat a small breakfast and drink a bunch. But it just didn’t work out this morning.
Was it just today? Then don’t worry about it. Bad days happen. Really bad days happen. I’ve had that happen to me.
If it starts to be every day then you might need a break.
One way to avoid this is to spend some time running with other people, if you can (and it’s convenient).
Yeah, this is the first time I lost my will like that ever since I really started training this past winter. I wish I could find someone to train with…but usually I only train with other people one or two days a week. I think that would have helped avoid this incident today.
I think I’ll take the rest of today off…tomorrow off to do chores…and pick it back up on Sunday.
I had a similar experience recently. I was in the pool after a weights workout. My eye’s just wouldn’t focus on anything. After 500 WU I began my main set of 200 repeats. After 100m I just kept swimming through the wall jumped out, daydreamed in a pissed off mood in the shower for a while and then left.
For me, this experience was as good a motivator as a beautiful sunny day in the hills on the bike. It gets you thinking and planning. You must have done something wrong in the hours/days/weeks beforehand. This “failure” allows you to fix a problem with your training regime. I know what mistake I made to end up with no focus.
Normal. Many will say “HTFU” or call you demeaning names for bagging a workout. If its happening all the time then you need to look at your training plan and understand what’s going wrong. Sometimes you have to bag a workout, it just happens. Don’t try to reschedule the workout, double up or work it in somewhere this week. Just check it off the list and move to your next planned item on the list - which in your case might be some recovery/rest.
fatigue… I used to have runs like that maybe once a year. These days it’s about once a month. Often it’s not physical, just a general weariness from work/life. I switch to walking and listening to birdsong, for the same time as I’d planned to run; then make sure to go to bed at 8pm. Usually fixes it…
Was it just today? Then don’t worry about it. Bad days happen. Really bad days happen. I’ve had that happen to me.
If it starts to be every day then you might need a break.
One way to avoid this is to spend some time running with other people, if you can (and it’s convenient).
Yeah, this is the first time I lost my will like that ever since I really started training this past winter. I wish I could find someone to train with…but usually I only train with other people one or two days a week. I think that would have helped avoid this incident today.
I think I’ll take the rest of today off…tomorrow off to do chores…and pick it back up on Sunday.
I agree with the consensus. It’s just a bad day. If you’ve been training well through the winter, you’ve probably got some accumulated fatigue, and if any part of you says no training today, listen.
I pretty much run by myself, and my ipod nano is my best friend. I just clip it to my visor, put it on random play, and enjoy the tunes. In my opinion, it beats just about any training partner for passing the time while getting in the miles.
Okay, I’m no expert, but I think maybe this is reason to hit the trails, get the mountain bike out of the garage, go exploring, or do something else to mix it up. Face the facts: training on the road is monotonous. It gets old fast unless you’re exploring new roads all the time (and who can really do that?). It turns into a chore instead of a hobby.
Mix it up. In mountain biking and trail running, you encounter something different with every pedal stroke or every step. It’ll keep you engaged and restore the “fun” element.
One other idea: volunteer to coach your local junior high or high school cross-country or track runners. Find a way to use your developed sport skills to give back to someone else. It’s routine for you, but your training ideas might be new or fun to them. Heck, maybe they’ll have some ideas for you.
Sometimes it happens. For no apparent reason. And, when it does…then listen to your body (in this case, the brain portion of your body). Take the evening’s workout off. Read a book, watch a movie, have a beer, play with your kids, walk the dog…whatever. Just do something to relax. If it becomes a daily thing, you may want to look at medical causes or at actual overtraining. But every random day once in a while is nothing to worry about.
Agreed. It just happens. When this happens to me, I don’t look at the clock and just do a recovery run without putting the pressure on, otherwise I get pissed and frustrated at my times.
Suck it up, sweetcakes. NEVER let a weak mind get the best of your body. If you had physio indications (hr, etc.) that showed lack of recovery, that is one thing. Barring that…get back out there and run.
Trust me…you can go LOOOOONG after your brain says its had enough.
No big deal. You won’t lose fitness. Only worry if it becomes a trend. I went through then when I trained for my 2nd IM and it kept happening, over and over. I had a HORRIBLE race and was miserable. I didn’t take the hint and give myself permission to bail on a workout. I beat myself up each time which made it worse next time I went out and thus the cycle began. Occasionally I’ll let myself “cheat” by stopping a run 3 - 5 minutes sooner than I’m supposed to. (Don’t tell my coach). For some reason this satisfies my need to rebel but lets me get in the workout. It is a little treat.
Also think about changing what you do that day. If the run isn’t working, get on the bike or go for a swim if you feel guilty.
If you have been training solid since last winter, you may need some downtime. My first year of tri, I was hardcore and felt guilty everytime I missed a workout. By about month 8-9, I started seriously losing motivation. I would get in the pool and be done after 1000y of a 3000y workout, or just barely turn the cranks on my trainer. I was just sick of training. I think lots of new triathletes get gung-ho on the powermeters, coaches, workout logs, etc, etc and start to lose the fun and lose the motivation. Not saying this is the problem, but it is perfectly normal to start to lag. There are two things to try that always work for me when the funk comes.
Reduce the structure - Don’t set any targets for a few weeks, just run, bike, swim whatever you feel up for. Don’t use a watch, power meter, journal or anything that forces you to measure your workouts. Run and bike on routes you’ve never taken. Try to get lost on your runs and rides (unless you have a horrible sense of direction). I do this for pretty much the whole off-season. Only way for me to stay sane and train all year.
Take time off - If #1 doesn’t work, just take time off. Relax. The season’s starting, so ideally this would have been three months ago, but a week won’t hurt.