relentlessness
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Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2017-03-04 10:04 PM |
136 | Subject: relentlessness hi Just wondering if any one else finds their training a bit overwhelming and relentless at times? I'm only training for a HIM and I'm not very good at anything so I think that wears me out, but the last couple of weeks I just feel tired all the time, a bit down and half want to give it up. I'm also training to run by HR and am very frustrated that I am still having to walk to keep my HR down, feel like I'm never going to be able to do it. Maybe I'm just having an off couple of weeks |
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2017-03-05 12:26 AM in reply to: loops |
Master 8247 Eugene, Oregon | Subject: RE: relentlessness Yes, anything worth doing is sometimes hard, and can at times become something of a grind. Particularly if it's your first HIM, it's a big step up in volume for most people, and the hours get pretty long at some point. Fitness also doesn't usually increase in a linear way, which can be frustrating--one tends to plateau for a while before making progress. And with training for longer events in particular, cumulative fatigue can cause you to seem to temporarily lose fitness--going slower at the same effort, higher than expected heart rates for pace/power, etc. Some of it is just part of the process. But you might also take a look at recovery. Are you taking regularly scheduled easy/active recovery/rest days? Recovery weeks every 3-4 weeks where you do substantially less volume? Also look at sleep--are you getting enough? With iron-distance training, you'll most likely be needing an additional hour or so on top of the 7-8 hours that most adults need (but often don't get). Finally, what does your diet look like? Are you eating enough extra calories to support the additional training load, and getting a good balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats? Many athletes, especially women, tend to eat a diet that's too low in all of those, as well as iron. HIM (or, worse yet, IM) training really isn't the best time to follow a restrictive diet or try to lose weight. Finally, if it's mostly mental, can you change things up a little? Try a new running route or do some trail running, or find some people to train with, or do some biking as part of a spin class, or something? I train probably 95% solo most of the year, and often I find that what's really wearing me down isn't so much physical as mental--just getting bored sometimes with my own company! |
2017-03-05 7:09 AM in reply to: #5215042 |
87 Davenort, Iowa | Subject: RE: relentlessness X2 for the above reply. I'm training for my second HIM this year. Long bikes have always been boring for me, especially when on the trainer. I zwift which has helped a bunch. I too am working on heart rate zones as well and end up having to walk a lot more than I need to. In the end pace ends up being slower than I want or am capable of but I also know to trust the process. Once we learn to let go of pacing it does become more fun again. Find somebody to run with. That helped me a lot. My training partner and I run together once a week for at least an hour. She is one of the few people who I can talk to on longer runs. The fact that we don't talk on a daily basis helps, because there is always something to talk about. Rest days a critical. Be sure and take a day off if needed. Your body knows what it wants and needs. You don't want to get an overuse injury that could keep you down for a while. |
2017-03-06 2:39 PM in reply to: loops |
Veteran 2842 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: relentlessness Originally posted by loops hi Just wondering if any one else finds their training a bit overwhelming and relentless at times? I'm only training for a HIM and I'm not very good at anything so I think that wears me out, but the last couple of weeks I just feel tired all the time, a bit down and half want to give it up. I'm also training to run by HR and am very frustrated that I am still having to walk to keep my HR down, feel like I'm never going to be able to do it. Maybe I'm just having an off couple of weeks Hi - congrats on training for a HIM! Couple things that I hope will help (in addition to saying both above posts are great perspective). First, it's not "only" a HIM. It's a HIM - wooohoooooo! Aiming for that is a great target and should not be minimized. Second, you're already better at this than someone who isn't out there getting after a personal goal. It's all relative, as VERY few of us are ever first OR last across the line... As for the grind, yep, it almost certainly will be at times. A HIM is a long day, first time around. As above, do make sure you have some "step backs" in your training. For some people that's a light week every fourth. Others, every third. Still others, it's sport by sport and day by day (more of a rolling recovery, if that makes sense). In the end, you have to be sure that you have enough easy to balance the hard, is all - but if you don't, then you can burn out. If it's not recovery (as in, you're just getting ground down mentally), you can either push through or reassess your goals. I don't mean to discourage you, just to say that some level of fatigue is totally normal, but if it's more than is bearable (within the context of having fun - I'm assuming you're in this for fun), then you can look at your goals and if there's a drop in training that could correspond to a change in goals. I hope you find the balance that works for you, at this point in time and enjoy! Matt |
2017-03-08 2:09 PM in reply to: loops |
DC | Subject: RE: relentlessness Agree with the Saigon Queen. FWIW: I love training (& the bragging rights). That said, perhaps you are doing too much/too soon &/or is this YOUR "thing"? |
2017-03-09 4:11 AM in reply to: Porfirio |
Master 8247 Eugene, Oregon | Subject: RE: relentlessness Originally posted by Porfirio Agree with the Saigon Queen. OMG! I think my fellow fast female triathlete (Sophie, 25, about my speed overall, but way faster on the bike and getting faster all the time while I am getting older and slower) might take exception to that. Or maybe she can be the princess?! We do have a king here (in 50-54, he did Kona last year), as well as a 30-something prince. Guess we are set as far as royalty goes. |
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2017-03-09 7:50 AM in reply to: Hot Runner |
Veteran 427 | Subject: RE: relentlessness I definitely agree with the posts above in regard to recovery and listening to your body. It's amazing what a few nights of good sleep can even do. However, for me when I start to feel "down" or in need of motivation it only takes reading a few inspirational quotes or seeing something on TV that puts me in the frame of mind that everything is relative. I mean, can I really be complaining about running 3 miles when there is so much in the world that I should be grateful for? There's going to be one day that I won't be able to do this stuff and I suppose I use that line of thinking just to push me a little bit more. |