So I've been having a hard time coming back from the HIM (or starting back up). Not physically, physically I've felt fine, but mentally. Two weeks ago I missed a bike workout, 25 miles. Just didn't do it, just like that. Couldn't motivate myself to do it. Well, actually, I did get on the trainer but was feeling woozy and only made it to the 10 mile mark or so, no idea what that was about, but my heart truly wasn't in it. Then last week I missed my 10 mile run. Just couldn't do it. Couldn't get out of bed. So at the end of the year, two missed workouts after a whole year of no missed workouts.
So I had a talk with myself. Did I still want the Ironman? Was it that my heart just wasn't in the Ironman anymore? Yes, I still want the Ironman. And if I do, then I need to train. These two missed workouts, whatever, stuff happens, but I can't have weeks and weeks of this. So if I want it, I have to train, and stop missing workouts NOW. This week, so far, so good. The change in time and the shortened days have affected me greatly energy and motivation wise. So I realize that if I left one workout for the night it wouldn't get done (one in the morning and one at night works great until October or so, no problems there, and gives me more enegy for each one). So this week I've been doing my second workout right after the first. Sure, I have less energy, but my body will adapt eventually to two-in-a-row and it gets done. Once the time changes again in the Spring I plan to go back to split workouts. Seems to work out better this way although I really didn't feel like running after weights Monday but I just dragged myself to the track and ran. If I had gone home I doubt that run would have gotten done.
Had some trouble controlling the eating for a couple of weeks also but now back on track.
I think the training has lost some of its magic and romance and now has become work and not fun all the time, so now it's time to put on my big girl pants and put my money where my mouth is about just getting things done.
So it was all a combination of the change in time, the shortened days, and a little post-HIM stump. Hopefully I can weather this out.
It can be tough to keep the motivation, especially when you have more than one "longer" race to train up to. Missing workouts isn't a good habit to get into, but neither is ignoring the mind... which can get overtrained just like the body can. When I get in a rut I take a day off and just "be a slob" for 24 hours. (no worrying about getting up at the crack of dawn either!) I have a couple of drinks, eat french fries and basically just lay around doing anything (nothing)that has to do with Triathlon. It almost always does wonders for my training and mood.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!