Three weeks out from my ironman race and I am having SERIOUS motivational issues. I have done all the training. Everything is ready. Training this past weekend was really hard to motivate though. I am at the point where I just don’t know if I want to bother. This was supposed to be my last big weekend of training and I was just not excited at all. Any advice? I’d say it was just taper, but taper starts now and I am already down in the dumps… Anything I should read or DVD I should watch to get me in the right frame of mind? Has anyone else gone through this? What did you do to get the excitement back?
andi
I’m going through the same thing. This weekend’s bike ride was a disaster (see the “What a crappy ride” thread) and I was feeling less and less excited about going to IMLOU. I told my wife this would be the last one for a long time. I was getting frustrated that training was taking up so much of my time. Hopefully, this will pass soon. I plan on tapering more than I originally intended just because I’m feeling so burned out. Watching DVDs of other IMs might help but I think once you get to the venue, see all the other athletes, visit the expos and get that band on your arm, the excitement will quickly come back. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway. Good luck. Are you doing IMLOU or IMC?
Here’s the deal…you are right where you are supposed to be. Training for an ironman is hard. Suprise, suprise.
We all wax about the physical demands, but the mental angle gets less attention. Also, we are usually balancing work, family, church, or other community committments. For me, it gets overwhelming sometimes too. I think that’s more normal than not.
Make sure all of the other “stresses” in your life are relatively in check. Spend an afternoon with the spouse / kids. Take a few hours and pay the bills and respond the the pile of mail. Check a few things off the work “to-do” list that has been building.
At this point I also like to do some untructured stuff. Leave the HR monitor @ home and just run. Go for a ride on your favorit loop and don’t worry about watts, etc.
Watch a few of the Kona DVDs if you really want an injection. Check out the stories on Jon Blaze, The Hoyt’s, or Sarah Reinertson. Should you really be feeling sorry for yourself?
You’ve done the training and the preparation. It all over now but race day. So, have confidence in your training and kick some %$^& ass.
No regrets.
Thanks. I am doing IMC. I know it is exciting when I get there. It is just the next three weeks I have to get through that have me so worried. Will look fro the ride thread. Good luck at IMLOU.
I’m doing IMC too, and I just did my long bike on Saturday and then watched NBC and the Kona re-broadcast on Sunday and it totally re-lit my fire for IMC! Can’t wait now! 20-mile run on Thursday! Bring it!
Well. I am glad I am where I am supposed to be. But it just sucks being here. I love this stuff. Usually. Can’t get enough of it. Normally. This time it is different. Maybe you are right. Maybe I need to be reminded of how good I have it.
Andi, watch this. I find it very motivational.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EokseUskyDI
Maybe you should consider a different training approach next time around. Because you should start getting excited about this race. It seems to me that too many AG triathletes approach training as a must-do and ultimately they become slaves to their training plan. What’s the purpose with that approach.
Me thinks you didn’t listen to your body, your overreached or even overtrained and need a couple of easy days (if not more). Get a massage, go watch a movie, have a good dinner. Maybe you were too focused for a while there and it backfired on you.
Instead of going by HR you should take the POLAR slogan literally and “listen to your body”.
take it easy and good luck!
I went through the same thing for IMLP this year. My first full IM, and the weeks leading up to it sucked. I was unmotivated, and the last long training weekend was mentally exhausting.
Taper was even worse. I was constantly questioning myself, did I do enough, etc.
Race day I was nervous but confident. When the canon went off, all the training fell into place and I was able to focus mentally and physically and had an amazing race.
You have done the training, have faith in what you have already done.
Take the time and listen to the daemons and prepare to shut them up on race day.