finding that lost motivation
Hi All,
Looking to the masses for some help to get myself back on track. I was once upon a time one of those people that never missed a workout. While I know EN is not into volume, I use to love to see how many hours/miles I'd acquire. But since about the new year, I seem to have lost my motivation. I've been missing several workouts a week (and there were a few weeks I did nothing) and when I do get in the runs/bikes/swims, I am slow since, well, I've been slacking. I won't get into excuses, but work has been crazy- lots of very long and stressful days, so that isn't helping anything. My A race is IM Wisconsin, so I know there is time, but I still feel like I've been sabotaging myself. Basically I'm looking for some inspiring tales of how people have gotten back on track after a major loss in motivation and training.
Comments
People who seem most passionate about getting back on the horse are those have suffered a forced layoff from bike crash, running injury, illness or surgery. Now, I'm NOT suggesting you go out and hurt yourself, but reading about athletes who have overcome such experiences always seems to inspire me to remember how lucky I am to be able to pursue the goals I do.
Another group who also seem to lift the rest of us are those who decided to make a major change, from the couch to an Ironman, say, losing 40-120 # along the way. Again, not something I have to worry about myself, but I've learned a lot from their dreams and persistence.
But in the end, all motivation comes from within, doesn't it? The one thing which drives me the most every day is to remember what my immediate and long-term goals are from all this training. I like racing, and besting myself and others in the process. When I feel like not getting out, I do a double check on whether I still own that goal. So far, it's kept me going this year. And being public about my goals (see the sig line below) provides an added prod.
OR you could lead a challenge on the team. Go into the challenge forum and post a Motivation Challenge. You make the rules. When you lead it is much harder to slack, because others are looking to you for leadership.
OR Challenge yourself to finish a certain number of workouts each week, lets say 2 workouts and then the next week 3 workouts and etc... until you are back to your old self. Write your challenge goals down and post them somewhere and let everyone you know what your goals are.
Not sure if it is option, but try to find friends who might consider working out with you. They do not have to be on the team to join you for a workout. I have a friend who I swim with on Sat mornings. After the swim, she comes over and rides the first 1 hour of my bike ride. She works with power and uses her own numbers and often times does her own thing on her bike while I am doing my workout. There have been times when I do not want to even look at my bike, but knowing that she is coming over makes me get on the bike.
Rachel - good advice from the vets. I would add trying to determine the source of your un-mojo and specifically trying to address that. Have you been injured or sick, or been fighting not getting sick and are having a hard time feeling 'right' again? Also, it looks like you're in IL -- how's the weather? Is it still dark and cold in the mornings? That'll put a big dent in anyone's mojo - could you be vitamine D deficient? You also mentioned stress at work ... is this temporary stress, or is this a new reality at work? If so, how can you adjust your non-work life to make it more manageable? For me, the more stressful work gets, the more important it is to eat right (vs stress-eating on chocolate...) so that when the stress surge is over, I don't feel like a bloated, plump blob and can jump back into my rhythm easier.
Like you said, you have plenty of time until IMMOO, so don't put any pressure on yourself. We do this because it's fun, and we can. Find some friends and gradually ease back into it (nothing easy or gradual about EN plans, so hack away!), or maybe take some time off from s-b-r and go x-country skiing, hiking or something else to refresh your head. Best of luck!
You don't need excuses for the last 3 months. Start now. Yes, there's plenty of time until Sept 8, but start...now.
RnP do a super job laying out our whole year. Most of the time, it works out, as laid out, for most of us. But, not always, sometimes life & circumstances will keep you (and I) from staying on schedule.
But, don't let these circumstances force you to the bench. Don't volunteer to be an All or None EN'er. You still signed up and paid for an Ironman. Just cuz you missed the Holy Grail of the OS, don't quit or 'mail it in'. You have 6 months. Plenty of time....if you start getting consistent, now.
Do it today. Wake up tomorrow...and do it tomorrow. Repeat.
(don't forget to eat mindfully and get enough sleep)
http://pinterest.com/vasiliuadrian/motivational-quotes/
http://members.endurancenation.us/Forums/tabid/57/aft/10986/Default.aspx
Why do you finish? When you're dog tired 12 miles into a 15 mile run, what gets you over the hump? I find that at some point, the combination of exhaustion and endorphin leads to some kind of zenlike state-the mind empties, holds onto one thought, and won't let go. That thought may be the chorus to "call me maybe," which is not terribly helpful, but other times it's more than that, especially when the workouts are a release for the stresses of the office. I'll give you a personal example. My only tri last year was an oly. I was unprepared, to put it mildly, had never run longer than the race distance, had never swam the full race distance, and relied on the fact that I'd done it before. The water was above ws legality, but I swam in a ws anyway.
When I got out of the water, I felt like I'd been in a 40 minute wrestling match in a sauna. The rest of the day was no easier (the bike ride was brutal), and I would later that night come down with a fever and cold that knocked me on my ass for three days. There were several times during that race my head said "f this". I had to find a reason to finish. This was, without a doubt my worst performance in this event ever (and the reason I would join en a couple of months later), but it's the finish I'm most proud of. (In fact, thanks to reading some EN stuff about pacing, I got the bike right, dialed back the intensity, and felt comparatively good enough to finish the run).The reason that I found to keep going doesn't matter; what mattered is that there was a reason that I would not --could not-- allow myself to give up.
Find that reason before you get on the trainer. Take 2 minutes or less before stretching, or whatever. Then visualize what it is you want to do (ride hard, run fast, whatever). This can help especially when work is stressful, as you have to clear your mind so that you're "allowed" to take time to work out. (YMMV)
The other thing that works is the AA approach. Forget about tomorrows workout. Focus on today's and just show up. If it helps, put up a calendar someplace you'll see it and x out every day you do a workout, whether it's running, swimming, or just 10 minutes of stretching. After a week, you will hate to see any Xs. Or just report to the dashboard every day on what you did. YMMV
Consistency will beat talent when talent is inconsistent.I had the same problem a few weeks ago and then I decided to find training partners to help motivate me. I live on a small island and other athletes don't do the same volume or don't have the same speed but what I do know is that I start run/bike with a partner and then we go separate ways. I use this as a warm up.
Maybe this will help you too?
I agree with Al that the greatest mojo comes when you have lost the ability to train. If you come back from an injury you are generally glad to just be training. When I see folks who are really disabled, super obese, and unable to even comprehend ironman, then I am thankful that I can train, and hurt, and be dead tired. And that I can do something amazing like finish an Ironman! So congratulations on entering Wisconsin. Now start training before uou end up mooing!
I hear and understand your struggles with motivation.
Don't discount the impact of work stress - it can draw down your mental and physical reserves.
Also, note that this is a point you've arrived at, possibly because you burned yourself out for a bit.
The fact that you're reaching out indicates that you want to get back on the plan.
I've been here. When I fall off the wagon, my goal is always to get back on as quickly as I can, sometimes with an adjustment.
This is something of a life skill for me I've tried to hone, because I'm always falling off one wagon or another.
I don't know if it's inspiring - re-engaging with the plan for me is about slowing down and reconnecting - not the stuff of novels - at least not novels people buy and read...
I go back to a few things:
(1)
I enjoy the movement.
If I'm having a tough time with a swim workout, I just go out and swim and forget about the speed targets.
I re-connect with the elements of training I enjoy.
(2)
If I'm having a hard time getting started, I allow myself to bag after the warm-up.
Sometimes I do, and I take this as an indication of the requirement for more rest and recovery.
During the warm-up, I take in the feeling of the movement, which goes back to: I enjoy the movement.
(3)
I don't punish myself during any workout.
If it doesn't feel good, I scale it back.
It's punishing enough to work and raise a family.
I have to keep triathlon-training my happy place, and I'm thoughtful about how to do so.
(4)
I take things one day at a time, one week at a time.
If I have to take care of a kid and miss a workout, I remember that my peeps are my priority, and I think about how I can re-work my week.
If I just need a half hour to sit in a chair and do nothing, I make time for that.
(5)
I pay attention to my sleep.
If I'm not getting enough sleep, then I don't have the energy to workout.
If I'm not working out, then I don't get enough sleep.
If I end up in that loop, then I make sure I get in an easy workout even when I'm tired, and I get to bed earlier.
My advice:
1. acceptance - you are where you are - where you are is as good as any place - don't beat yourself up - support yourself the way you would support a friend
2. re-assess your starting point - don't try to use old paces. if anything, err on the easy side. make it easy to get started again.
3. start by just doing the warm-ups. EN workouts are hard by design because that's where the returns are, but if you're not ready for that or don't have room for that, that's ok. If after a 30m warm-up you feel like you want to do more, do more. if not, call it, but commit to doing the warm-up the next day.
4. start at your next possible opportunity. it will probably feel good to be back on the road or in the pool or in the gym. hitting a week of easy workouts will begin to get you back on track.
5. if you need to recover from your day, do an easy workout and make that your recovery from your day.
6. get enough rest.
7. get some sunshine if you can - it will help
I hope that this or something someone else offered helps - let us know how it goes?
Russ