General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Feeling guilty Rss Feed  
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2009-09-14 9:01 PM

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Subject: Feeling guilty
Hi all,

I've done one sprint triathlon. It was great--I did pretty well and I'm hooked and training for more. The problem is that I've become too into training. On days when I "only" swim 2500 or "only" run 4 miles I feel guilty--like I should be working out for at least 90 minutes. Does anybody else wrestle with these thoughts?


2009-09-14 9:22 PM
in reply to: #2406258

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
I wouldn't say that I feel guilty.  I feel something more akin to withdrawal symptoms.  It's been hard holding back after my last race to make sure I'm recovering.
2009-09-14 9:27 PM
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2009-09-14 11:25 PM
in reply to: #2406258

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
the 10% rule is a b*tch, I know I can go farther but its too much volume too soon. Dont gauge on time/distance gauge on effort.
2009-09-15 1:06 AM
in reply to: #2406477

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
during the season you have no idea how much i look forward to those days.
2009-09-15 1:55 AM
in reply to: #2406258

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
I used to feel...similar. However, the thing is, those feelings just aren't healthy, particularly because it is really easy to get injured in this sport when endorphines and the awesomeness of triathlon is so addicting.

My advice would be to start doing some basic research on training and overtraining. It might not make the physical urges to train more go away, but your knowledge of knowing the best ways to train (aka for most people not doing the most volume you can do every single day) will convince you to take some easy days so that your hard days can reap the most benefit.

I know how you feel - but I've gone through too many injuries to be able to say just train and train as much as your energy can withstand! Good luck


2009-09-15 2:01 AM
in reply to: #2406258

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
I am constantly battling my own desire to keep going.  I just did my first HIM on Saturday... it's only been two days and I'm already looking at my bike in the corner with thoughts about how I feel like I'm neglecting it for not having taking it out in two days.  I went to the pool during lunch today out of pure habit, realized in the parking lot that it hasn't even been 2 days since the race... so I have to convince myself to keep it short and only do 20 minutes of swimming.  After work I get home and can't take it anymore, so I went out for a run... kept it slow and went 2 miles... then did some simple core stability work.  I probably got 50 minutes in total for the day... not much considering what life was like for months leading up to the weekend.  I didn't feel guilty for only doing that much, I feel lazy instead.  Just like on rest days and during the taper...  You start to feel lazy.

The funny thing is when you start whining to someone about how you feel lazy because all you did today was swim a mile during lunch and then run 5 miles that afternoon.  It's "lazy" in our heads and you tend to forget that most people would consider that a grueling day of working out because they barely do 5 miles in a week if at all.  So you end up with some strange looks when you whine about feeling lazy.
2009-09-15 8:31 AM
in reply to: #2406258

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
There is will be days and weeks where you jump for joy to just run 4 miles and swim 2000 yards. 
2009-09-15 9:30 AM
in reply to: #2406258

Subject: RE: Feeling guilty

If you're following a set plan and your plan says to do "only" 2500 yards or 4 miles, then don't feel guilty - most plans are designed to build you safely, work in recovery periods, etc. And at least with running, doing too much before you're physically ready can lead to problems. With swimming and biking, it's less of an issue. 

2009-09-15 9:53 AM
in reply to: #2406258

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
Nope.

But then again, I've been doing this for a decent while now. The compulsion (and novelty) wears off after a while ;-)
2009-09-15 10:12 AM
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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty

All the time! just wait till you're doing HIM and IM training.   But thats why I use a coach for those years.



2009-09-15 11:35 AM
in reply to: #2407077

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Subject: RE: Feeling guilty
mmrocker13 - 2009-09-15 10:53 AM Nope.

But then again, I've been doing this for a decent while now. The compulsion (and novelty) wears off after a while ;-)


You're a lucky one. I've been cycling for 15 years, and I'm still annoyed if a road ride is shorter than 40 miles.

I actually wanted to start a thread about this to see if it's normal. I can't seem to do short workouts. If I only have time to run five miles or bike thirty, I get cranky. Typical Saturday morning - get up, put on my running gear, run 13 miles to the karate dojo, followed by two hours of karate. Sunday there's always a bike ride, 60-100 miles. Weekdays - more karate, more running, more cycling...

So, the exercise fix gets bigger with time. Withdrawal symptoms if I don't get it. A compulsion to always go "just one more mile." It's not training for anything specific, it's just for fun (though I'd like to do a HIm next year, and possibly an IM in the fall).

Anyway, yeh, the guilt... no idea, I've got the same problem. Maybe we can all gather around a campfire and sing Kumbaya and hope it goes away.
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