Burnt out

All Ironman athletes know that the race is the easy part.  It's the training that is the hard part...that's what makes the Ironman such an amazing experience.

Keep on keepin' on and know that you are not alone.

Hey, I'm TOTALLY burned out for my 2 races this year and found it VERY hard to plug through and even now during my taper I don't feel like working out, but i know that I'll be totally psyched to cross those finish lines and it will all be worth it....but I know that thought doesn't help much.

One thing you may want to consider is not having a structured training plan for an IM for an entire year.  that's too long for anyone and you'll most likely get burned out right before you peak weeks....NOT when you can afford to skip workouts.

so maybe the thing to do is do some "unstructured" training for the first 3 months perhaps, then get with a coach or whatever you're going to do for the remaining 9 months.

I agree with Steve that it is hard to have a training plan all the time. I've had one more or less for 4 years with a couple weeks a year of down time or free time.

In a year I typically take two breaks one sort of mid season just because I feel burnt out and need to get away and another at the end of the season after I'm done racing when I may take 1 week off of everything then 2-3 weeks of light stuff only if I want to and ideally no s/b/r but that is hard for me to get away.

I can tell when I'm fried and just need some off time or flexibility, and I discuss it with my coach and I take a few days off. What typically happens is I just don't want to do my training, it feels like a grind, and sometimes I just feel off and say I'm suppose to run at a higher HR I just can't get it up and don't want to either.

When I would get my new plan from my coach for the last 2 months before IM, I'd look at some days or weeks and think how am I going to do that? It helps to break it down and look at what you need to do that day or maybe the next and just do the workout.

When I finished my first HIM last year having already registered for IMLP, my thought was how the heck could I do an IM as HIM was so difficult. Funny after my IM I felt it was easier than my HIM and I thought about why. HIM I had a bad bike accident and wasn't able to build smoothly to it, I didn't taper as much and I wasn't as prepared. IM my build and taper was better and smoother and racing was easier...weather was better for me. HIM it was NJ in Oct and 92 and humid..not great for me and my IM it was 60's and rained the whole day..much better for me. 

Now I'd suggest making a list of why you want to do an IM. Think about it and consider if those reasons are enough to help keep you motivated to train when you might  not want to or when it is raining or when you'd rather be doing something else. If your reasons are deep enough and important to you, you will find the motivation to keep training. I was afraid I couldn't do it so I wanted to do all training scheduled so I would be prepared as possible.

It is an amazing journey..... 

I get ya,  I am training for my second IM this year, about 12 weeks left.  THis weekend we are going to the mountains.  At first I was stressed about missing the weekend bike, but then realized I could get some extra in this week and just go up and enjoy the time.   I will still run and swim, but won't be on the bike for 5 hours, like I've done before up there.

Everyone goes through this.  You're not racing for money, just for fun right?  A few days off isn't going to kill you.

That is a great post.  I'm 7 weeks out from Kona and I'm tired of training all the time.  But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel so I'll keep at it for a few more weeks; then taper; then race.  

Thanks for posting this question. I'm 5 weeks out from Longhorn and worn out physically and mentally. Plus becoming anemic in the process of training hasn't helped. I'm actually looking forward to just being able to train for a winter marathon. Did I really just say that?
My times are slow, recover is slower and motivation is at an all time low. I keep telling myself this is a mental slump and to HTFU. Just a few more weeks until the taper and then I'll be bored to death and climbing the walls.

x2. It is not a job, it should be a great pleasure!