low on motivation

I'm feeling the same way.

 AND I have a tri on sunday.

 I'm so screwed.

I've definitely lost my motivation and typically after I complete a race, I stop working out altogether.  I tend to take off a week or so and then just let it all go and succumb to laziness but I'm not letting that happen this year!  So what to do?  You can drop out.  Or, do the race. 

My only suggestion for you having a race in 3 weeks is for the finish of the race to be your motivation.  How?  Think about what you feel like when you finish a race you have worked and trained for - you feel a great sense of accomplishment.  If you are ok with having a mediocre race and not doing as well as you want, that's ok too, but be prepared for those feelings during/after the race (which can be a tough mental challenge in and of itself).  But you don't want to injure yourself, so try to get out there in the next three weeks and get some miles in so you can at least finish the race via a run/walk if need be. 

You know you don't have to run every day and you don't have to worry about biking or swimming for this race, so if you can get your butt out the door for a run 3x a week you should be just fine for race day.  You can also mix it up and do some yoga for some flexibility and strength, but def try to run 3x/wk. 

Go buy a new piece of gear - something small (a visor, t shirt, reflective vest, road id) - or make a playlist for your ipod to go on a run with.

Hope that helps... good lucj and let us know how you finish!

I struggled with this last year after my first half marathon and it took ages to get my mojo back.

I signed up for Jen Hendershot's Phat Camp to do something entirely different and be inspired (in my job I am usually the one to inspire) - I was freaking out a bit as I knew I would have to be fit to participate the whole weekend - in fact the reason I signed up was to get motivated so I would be fit by the camp!! That didn't happen because I couldn't get it together.

I had a blast, my fitness was far better than I anticpated but it wouldn't have mattered how fit anyone was we were still punished.

The fact that I was amongst 100 other women suffering along together and feeling really empowered and proud of getting through all the sessions as well as encouraging the less fitter ones - I came away from that weekend and haven't looked back.

This is not an advert for Phat Camp, in fact it was a bit of a debacle in many respects and the girls not quite as genuine as they liked to portray.

What I guess I am saying is what worked for me was forcing myself to participate in something that included other people &was an encouraging and inspiring environment.

Perhaps you can look around for something that peaks your interest but makes you a bit anxious (good anxious) when you think about doing it because you know it will pull you out of your comfort zone.

I nearly pulled out of the camp because my fitness was crap and I was grumpy but I am really glad I did.  Hope that offers you something in amongst the waffle

Try watching a couple of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8l249bM0FE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLdi0hMkinM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh1yMnrby3w&feature=related

Ernie

Robert;

Put your big girl panties on and

HTFU!

Have you taken any down time? Time off of training and just train what you feel like since you started?

It sounds familar that you are mentally fried and probably your body is tired from long season.

I suggest you take some time off for maybe a week do nothing, then next week do what you want but nothing crazy. Then take maybe 1-2 more weeks where you run maye 2-3 times a week nothing to long and bike and swim as the desire hits you. Great time to do something completely different..hiking, try something new maybe classes at the Y. Me I'm racing cyclocross this year..fun stuff!

Time away helps refresh you in many ways and helps you get back your excitment to train. Lots of first or second year folks don't take time off but come April/May could see they maybe should have.

I take 2 breaks a year one after my A race typically in June (most folks think I'm nuts) and again when season is over.

Tough thing for you is you have a race in a few weeks. If you can hang in there take a break afterwards. If not pull the plug now and skip the race and allow off season time to start now.

Thank you all for the encouragement...I appreciate it.

To the poster who said to HTFU - thanks!  :D

I would normally say "take a few days off or take it easy".  But if it's been going on for a month....

• Try mixing it up.  Do some other sports.  I plan to do some yoga and maybe even get back into some martial arts after my last race.  Take a vacation from tri, but still workout.
• s/b/r for fun.  Not set distances or time.  Just do it.  Go for a MTN bike instead of a road bike. 
• Sign up for a fun run or winter running race.  Something to work for (but you have a half mary, you said).
• HTFU!
• Watch an Ironman video.  That gets me fired up.
• Find a training partner
• Find some group rides/runs and master's swim class
• buy something new, or promise to treat yourself to something if you make your goals.

Just some ideas off the top of my head.... good luck!

Lack of motivation is usually a function of overtraining/over-racing. If neither is relevant for you, then perhaps you've got other issues in your life that have made triathlon seem irrelevant.

Matt Cazalas
Technical Writer

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