Team Skinny (Oct 2008) Its gettng Spooky out there. (Page 4)

1:45 = 33.84 miles  Need to go longer and more often

Hey Thanks for that reminder

Hey team,

I have been struggling with my training for the last couple of weeks. I have not been consistant at all and have only been running a couple of times  a week. I still see the weight coming off but I'm sure that if I was really hitting it like I should I would see better results.

Can any one give me some advice on getting back on track and finding my motivation again. I guess that I just need to suck it up and get my butt back out there, and start enjoying it again.

Thanks,

Chris

You pretty much answered this one yourself.  I find that planning on going for only a short time (and I mean like 10-15 min) and then going longer if I want to, and not worrying about pace/HR/goal etc. really helps me get back in the groove and fight burnout.

Thanks man, I knew I could count on you.

Went on a little roadie today and went to the U of M vs Illinios game in Ann Arbor. Got back around 10:30 and jumped on the trainer for 1:35 while watching the Dodgers sweep the Cubs.

Go DODGERS!!!

Hey, Chris.  Sometimes, when you've stopped or slowed down for a while and lost your motivation, you get overwhelmed just thinking of all the training you should have been doing, all the training you'll have to do to catch up and just all of that training in general.  All of the coulda shoulda wouldas can feel like a swarm of bees in your head and you can't get them to fly away.

This wasn't with training but with work.  I had all of these things I was behind on, needed to do, etc.  When I actually wrote them down on a list, well, there weren't as many as I thought.  The worry seemed to multiply the real number of to dos.  The worry about all the training you've missed or will miss is probably doing the same thing to you.

I don't know if you have a tri scheduled soon or not.  I didn't see any races listed in your Logs.  Assuming you don't, you're running at least twice a week and that's a plus.  If you can't find the motivation to go for an hour-long bike ride, just get on the bike and ride around your neighborhood for 15 minutes.  If you don't feel like going to the Y to do drills, I see you live in Florida, just go for a fun, no-train quick dip in the ocean.

If you're still unmotivated, I would even recommend not worrying about doing any biking or swimming and just go and do something else that's recreational outdoors, like play volleyball with some friends or go hiking.

Well, I don't know if that'll help, but I do hope you can get out of your motivational slump.

I always find signing up for a race very motivating...if I feel myself slipping I sign up for a 5K (or longer for you perhaps, but for me a 5K) It keeps a carrot dangling in front of me as I am working towards a tangible goal.

Chris,  A lot of good thoughts here.  The main thing is to DO something that you enjoy and get the FUN feeling back.  I can guarantee that the 1st mile or two that I run I am hating it and then it becomes fun.  Don't ask me why it is what it is and I except that.

Try to remember why you are doing any of this in the first place:  lose weight, stay fit,  stay alive longer or maybe a Tri was something you saw when you were younger and thought "someday" and you let time slip through you fingers.

Brian

Hang in there Tricupcake, we're all here for you and good job on focusing on keeping your life healthy while all the other is going on.

Thanks everyone for the tips and support. It really helps. After posting last night I sat down and made myself a motivational poster. I hung it in a place that I would see it everyday and remind me of why I started this in the first place. I can say it really helped out a lot. 

Today I took my 17 month old son and we went to the local state park (The Revine Gardens, Here in Palatka, Florida), from the main gate, to main gate is 2 miles. With a combonation of walking and running, (while pushing a stroller and baby, up and down major hills) I completed the round is 35 minutes. I have decided that I will go here instead of around the block. This way I know how far I am going and it is much more of a challange.

Thanks again for all of the support, it really means a lot!

Peace,

Chris

It was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it a lot.  Already looking forward to next springs races!!

Yaaaayyyyy!  Big, big, big congratulations to you!  That's great you're already looking at spring races.  Welcome to the club, Toader!

- Lora