Motivation?
So does anyone have any motivation to spare? I am majorly lacking right now. Please help!!!!
I am getting in pretty much all the bikes, and majority of the runs. But lately it has been so bloody cold and snowy that doing our run workouts is very difficult.
Send me any motivation that you may have extra... PLEASE.. Or you can give me advice... heck i will take as much advice as you can give.
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Comments
@JB
Look at your race calendar and say to yourself what do I have to do NOW to be the best I can be race morning. I live this creed everyday. Train with a sense of urgency as if the race was next month. I want no second thoughts come race day knowing I was all in for race prep. To quote the Great Pink Floyd "Another brick in the wall!
And on that exact note, remember that right now there are others (like me) who can't! So remember that you are blessed right now to be able to do what you do. That blessing doesn't always last forever, so make the most of it while you can!
Do you have any local friends who you can meet up with to do the run workouts with? I have always found it very helpful to have someone doing intervals with me, either as someone to chase, or as someone to lead.
BUT...Nemo is a genius! She speaks the truth for sure. Being able to do our stuff is really a blessing...it can all go away in a flash you know? For me, when I get frustrated, or lack motivation, I need my peeps...they keep my head out my fanny, make me laugh, and the overall experience of training fun, not just work. I am a social critter though, so I don't know if that will help you.
From another perspective, I've found that when my motivation drops its usually the early warning sign of being overworked and fatigued. Be very honest with yourself, look at your HR and sleep patterns, and especially if you've noticed higher HRs and wonky sleep, consider taking an extra day or two off. It really won't hurt to stand down an extra day. If you can't do that, then consider giving yourself permission to ease off some of the low priority workouts for the week and just hit the big ones. 2-1 your motivation will be much better after an easy week.
I've found I have to throttle my weeks: going hard (doing all the wko) 1-2 weeks and easy (only high priority ones) in order to stay focused and keep fatigue at bay. I found I get better results: more FTP and Vdot progress and stay consistent, by taking more rest rather than pushing through.
Just my $.02
1) Picking a goal that's near the end of the OS makes motivation easier for me. It has been a half marathon race sometimes for me; one year it was mentally my big thing to reach certain FTP targets.
2) Disinterest or just general mojo-failure I agree can be a sign of fatigue and/or overwork.
With regard to training partners, I also agree that this is a huge plus, but it's totally a "do as I say, not as I do" thing, since almost 100% of my training is solo, due to the particulars of my circumstances. But I sure do enjoy the occasional partnering and can see that it would be helpful.
My current very sad excuse for my biking mojo is that I get to watch another episode or two of a TV series on Netflix...which I don't allow myself to watch any other time. OK, I agree that one's really, really cheesy. :-)
Motivation is easier when you have urgency. I have only 1 full Iron race under my belt, but a bunch of 1/2's and others. I am always feeling that I a behind in my training. I feel like the race is tomorrow and I have not done enough. Not enough hard, not enough long and not enough fast. Every time I am doing a workout and I am not hitting the numbers I want, I think "how am I going to reach my goals with this kind of workout?" One other thing that comes to my mind is that Indoor work is almost always better quality than outside.
FYI, work is crazy busy/stressful, my condo is on the market to be sold, and i maybe moving to the other side of the country in the next 5 to 6 months. So motivation for September races is a little off right now. We will see.
I think you just identified your motiviation issues. There are many other things going on in your life. Look at ways to try to reduce the stress of work and selling the condo the best you can.
Moving is another issue and a maybe just start planning for that what if scenario to get ahead of the game. Finally all these pressure could be affecting your hours of sleep, eating and recovery habits. Look at those areas and do what you can to minimize problems there.
Beyond that look to set up a 5k race as short term training motivation to get working out. I used to run to relieve the stress. Myabe you can motivate your self with a reward at the end of the OS for hitting a goal or two.
Find a race that seems fun/cool/convenient that won't mess up your larger goals and register for it. I was toying with doing a 1/2 in March and figured if I felt ready close to race day I'd do it. Well, I most likley wouldn't be ready so I registered for it so now I will make it a point to get in those run miles. ANd the location is near the shoreline in CT, very close to where I used to live so it will be very cool!
I tend to race a lot, like once a month, year round. Whether its a 5k, a 10k bike TT or a sprint tri, it keeps me going. I may blow the budget on race fees but its fun!
@ Al, thanks for using my own comments against me and to motivate me.
Thank you everyone for your help, I forced my self on the bike and dreadmill today. And i am much happier that i did this and kind of feel a little more motivated.
@Jonathan-- you did point out some major limiting factors there- work, house, moving. I lived that nightmare last spring, so I feel your pain. All of those things have a big "fear" component to them- fear I will screw something up at work, fear my house won't sell, fear the logistics of moving, whether you want to or not. Fear is EXHAUSTING, which can lead to demotivation. The way I deal with fears like that is to make a list of things I can control and things I can't. Then I rip up the things I can't control and focus on the things I can control and do my best to make a plan. That's partly why I love to train- it is (usually!) within my realm of control.
Hopefully not coming off as prescriptive, just trying to find a source of that lack of motivation. Right now I am so motivated in my training it's helping me overcome my fears/lack of motivation in other areas of my life...good luck and take care of yourself.
Every workout is a chance to do what i didn't think possible. I find that i have to get it done early AM or it doesn't happen, half the battle is starting. I also find that the intervals make the long sessions bearable. I also have found that i find the TM incredibly boring and that pushes me outside no matter how inclement the weather is. Plus when I run into people around town and they say they saw me running (with admiration for me being out in this weather) it feels great. Not to mention that doing this stuff makes one truly feel alive.
so next time you are doubting your resolve, look in the mirror and ask: am I a princess? or a triathlete? and HTFU!
GOALS Totally agree with what's been stated about setting goals. Personally, I like two sets of goals: one set that's reasonably attainable but requires hard work and another set of "stretch" goals that are way out there, but maybe, just maybe you could hit them. Tell your friends about the first set and keep the "stretch" goals to yourself. Also, make your goals SMART - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria. Write them down, put them somewhere you can see them, and read them and think about them every day.
AUDIOBOOKS There are some incredibly motivating books out there. Particularly the athlete autobiographies. Some are terrible, but many are really inspiring. I do audiobooks because you can listen to them while going about your day (and while working out), and you find yourself itching to get in your next workout as you listen. I use Audible and download them straight to my phone. Pretty awesome stuff. The below books have helped push me through countless training weeks and workouts, giving each everything I've got.
- Born to Run, Christopher McDougall
- Finding Ultra, Rich Roll
- Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
- My Time, Bradley Wiggins
- Open, Andre Agassi
- I'm Here to Win, Chris McCormack
- Every Second Counts, Lance Armstrong
(I read this about 3 years ago. Very inspiring but not sure I could now bear the rants about how he never doped. Should be listed in Fiction section now...)
Hope this help and would love to hear of other inspiring books that might be out there...
However, My mojo is still gone, but i am still doing the workouts. It is funny, to start the workout is the hardest part. Once i start, i am in the zone and ready to kick some @ss and take names. Its just the getting started phase.
BTW, the great news is that my condo is now under contract and that is one stress removed... so i can keep my bike at the house the whole time
I agree with all the above..... 2/3rds the "work" of a workout is just showing up.
My wife says that my workout time counts as my "personal fun time".....If she only really understood how many times I reeeely didn't want to get up (I am NOT a morning person) @ 5am to get a early swim in or (in summer in AZ, for a run before it turns 100+ degrees)....and even how many WKOs where long and tedious or just plain painful. -not MY definition of "Fun Time".
That said....I frequently climbed out of pool feeling energized ....or recalled enjoying the sunrise of an early morning run etc after fighting with every bit of self talk I could muster ...just to roll out of bed.
Then there is the "rough few days"....these can lead to weeks of half hearted hit and miss workouts. Action creates momentum. Getting out and get at it will frequently break the funk. Make a fresh music file with "wow I haven't heard that song in a while-love it!" high energy music. go find a scenic or never explored run/bike rout. Enter a "fun run/warrior dash" type event -for just the shizzles (no Garmin!) Post photos of your past races and put up where you'll see them (by sink mirror etc) with goals/date of A race. And keep checking in here!