How do you stay motivated in the offseason????

I have a goal in mind and every time i want to skip a workout or eat something that i dont need, i just say "Boston".

Set a goal, it can be whatever you want, mine is about 2-3 years away but its going to take a lot of time and patience to get there.

Do you get enough snow to CC ski? If not, try roller ski.

There are 5ks thruout the winter ...  Often associated with a holiday ... Turkey Trot, Jingle Bell Runs, New Year's, Cupid run, etc.  Pick some of those and have different goals...  best time, same pace each mile split, etc.

Or pick goals in different areas like strength training or swimming.

Challenge forum can help if you have the type of personality that responds to not letting the team down.

Good luck!

BTW  the intensity of wo doesn't necessarily have to be the same as in season.  Just in balance with eating etc.

Read more about people like this (the link on the first post) -
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=231761&posts=18&start=1

I look at pictures of what I looked like a few years ago.

Why can't you run? Running well is a big part of triathlons. Perhaps building your running ability would be a great way to spend your training time this winter. I couldn't do long distance runs when I first started either, but with consistent effort over time I was able to build up to it.

I'm going through the same adjustment after my first season, and I'm finding that pickinga  target a month or two out has helped.  I've got a 10K in November, ski trip in January and the Solvang Century Ride next Spring as benchmarks.  I'm enjoying a bit more freedom on the workouts I do now, but I've found that for me it helps to lay out a plan for each week for workouts and to generally stick to it.  I went free form for a couple of weeks and realized I enjoyed the structure of the workout weekly plans.  I loved the suggestion one of the posters had about looking at pictures of what I used to look like!

I would also recommend running (shorter is fine, you could really hone your 5k!).

I also ride my bike for fun, yes in the snow.

I am going to try snowshoeing this year.  It's a wicked good workout, so definitely going to burn the calories.

I also try to spend more time in the pool.  Maybe up your workouts by one?  Look for interesting workouts online for variety.

I also like to try classes at the gym (bootcamp, yoga, etc).

Basically, just keep moving!

Edited by BikerGrrrl 2010-10-26 10:30 AM

the reading on the scale and how my pants are fitting!

I love what I do, that's all the motivation I need.

OP didn't say he couldn't run...he said he could not do long distance runs. Difference there. I can't either. Nor can I run more than a couple/few days a week. And def. need a month or three away from running.

You don't NEED to train with intensity--you don't even NEED to do tri specific stuff. You SHOULD stay active, in some way, though. Just for your general health. XC ski, hike, walk your dog (walk a neighbor's dog), learn to play water polo, use new gym equipment00erg trainer, ET, nordic track, etc., play hockey, park your car two miles form work and walk in... whatever.

Do what makes you happy, and what you enjoy. If that's doing low-key tri related stuff all winter, than YAY! If that's NOT doing that...then YAY!

Be (reasonably) healthy, be happy. No one day's activities will make or break your life...just understand what the consequences of your actions are long term. So, if what you need is two weeks of sitting on the couch watching the TiVo and eating cheetos, followed by two months of snowshoeing and doggy agility classes to "cleanse your palate" so to speak...do it.

During the winter I focus on running. I love to run and there are so many good races around here. I'll race pretty much everything from a 5k to a marathon over the next three or four months. Haven't been to the pool in a month but will start again a day or two a week after the holidays and I'm doing a spin class with friends. Also trying to motivate my wife to run a half marathon in January.

I personally think of the next season and being even better than this season.  I have a goal to one day become a pro.  I know it's a big goal and I know that it may never happen, but that goal keeps me going.  

I guess what I'm trying to say is set a goal for yourself.  It could be as simple as taking 5 minutes off of a race time from your first season.  The off season is an important part of the being a triathlete.  We all need the time to allow our bodies to recover from the intensity of the season.  Enjoy the flexibility of the off season, stay active and keep your goal in mind.

Best of luck, 

The time you can make the biggest gains is off season so take advantage of it. You can train w/o interruptions of races.

Do you want to be faster next year?

Train consistently in the off season and you will be.

An early season race

This user's post has been ignored.

I don't have an off-season.  I race year-round!

How about to stay fit and healthy ... that's all the motivation I need.

Even though I am competitive for my age group in some races, I still just race for fun. Having the privledge to race is just a by product of keeping my body in top condition year round.

I also look around me and see 99% of the population that is sedentary and I know that never has been and never will never be me ... that also keeps me motivated.

Edited by rventuri 2010-10-27 7:44 AM

I am going to cut back on the bike and maintain some running, drop the swimming over the winter, which I have done over the last 2 years any ways since it comes back fast, and do x-c ski races this year.

I try to mix it up with some other activities like hiking and trail running.  Winter is actually a great time to work on your swimming and bike intensity if you have a local indoor Y.  Otherwise, I reduce my mileage and work on my speed.  The cooler temperatures make it a little easier to go harder on the run.  I spend the off season trying to push that run down into the "Boston Qualifying" ballpark. Still haven't quite made it yet but I am working on it.  

I got the moutnain bike a good tune up and been hitting some trails.  5K-10K-15K's here and there, some hiking, speedwork running.  I haven't been in the pool since my last race.

I'm trying to stay active get some activity in at least 5 days per week. However, coming off my largest volume summer ever I still feel lazy as $hit! My eating hasn't adjusted to my reduced activity level and my body is starting to return to it's comfortable winter weight, that I'm not comfortable in. 

It is tough!  Especially when the sun doesn't rise until 7am and it sets at 5:30PM.  I was looking forward to the offseason a few months ago, now it is starting to frustrate me. With my 1st race in 2011 not until April, it is really hard to stay motivated.

What works for me is yoga.  The whole season you have been in constant motion so its nice to sit back mentally prepare myself for the new season and give myself a break from swimming, biking and running.  that said I focus on alot of drills during this time period

A 140.6 lurking on the horizon ought to do it.

If you are a sprint racer, find a series of off road 5k's.  Fun and they usually end with beer.  Try to PR.

Edited by pga_mike 2010-10-28 7:27 AM