General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Lost my motivation Rss Feed  
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2013-02-21 7:50 AM

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Camden Wyoming, Delaware
Subject: Lost my motivation

This would have been the start of my 5th years competing in Triathlons/Duathlons, but I'm just not feeling it.  Frown

I started my MBA program earlier in the year, and since I'm focusing on school, I haven't been able to focus on training, plus, I just don't have the time.

I guess this year I'll  be concentrating on exercising my brain and not so much my body.



Edited by btlovin 2013-02-21 7:50 AM


2013-02-21 7:54 AM
in reply to: #4631282

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

Grad school is a huge stressor

Exercise is a huge stress reliever

Just sayin'

2013-02-21 7:56 AM
in reply to: #4631282

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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
I am kind of in the same boat, but for different reasons.  I took over as race director for the only XTERRA left in New England and am finding that takes a lot of time and mental energy.  I did nothing but offroad events last year and it included quite a bit of travel.  This year I am looking at only a couple road sprints and a 6hr mtn bike race.....but add to that the fact that the snow has gotten really good in NH the past couple weeks and all I can think of is alpine skiing and not swim/bike/run workouts.
2013-02-21 8:12 AM
in reply to: #4631282

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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

You've lost your motivation to train or do events?

2013-02-21 8:14 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

I've been up and down since i started tris. Sometimes I am super motivated, other times it's just too much with what's going on in my life. I took a whole summer off one year just because i had other things going on.

That being said, you can still exercise and be in shape. You could focus on running and do some 5ks. You could take up yoga or another sport. Just because you don't want to do tris doesn't mean you have to stop being active.

Do what's best for you and good luck with your MBA program!

2013-02-21 8:47 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

Many people seem to experience what you're going through.

The general recommendation is usually to look at the WHY's:

-why do you train?

-why do you race?

-why do you put in so much effort?

The people who can say, "Because I enjoy it so much" are fortunate and often need look no further.

For those of us with more complicated answers there's more to look at, but if the why answers are still valid then hopefully they will reinforce just what makes this passion worthwhile. It can be a bit of a dangerous exercise because as life changes your answers may change as well, and you may come to the realization this isn't for you anymore. But if your answers are still strong it may be just the core motivator you need - and it will be somewhat different for just about everyone.

Good luck.



2013-02-21 10:46 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

So, just ramp the time back and your race expectations back a little (or alot).  Stay active and involved.  Volunteer more...that always makes me get back to motivated status!

Ain't nothing the matter with listening to lecture notes, class materials, books, etc while you run...just saying!

2013-02-21 11:42 AM
in reply to: #4631282

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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
btlovin - 2013-02-21 7:50 AM

This would have been the start of my 5th years competing in Triathlons/Duathlons, but I'm just not feeling it.  Frown

I started my MBA program earlier in the year, and since I'm focusing on school, I haven't been able to focus on training, plus, I just don't have the time.

I guess this year I'll  be concentrating on exercising my brain and not so much my body.

Nothing wrong with taking time off or not doing it anymore.

BUT, if you stop the exercise remember to adjust the diet. 

When you come back  we don't want your first post to be "I use to do Tri's but then I gained 50 lbs doing my MBA".

2013-02-21 12:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

I started doing triathlons, then I started doing my master's during that time I did:

-1st 70.3~ 6 hours

-2nd 70.3 ~5:40

-1st 140.7 ~12:45

-3rd 70.3 ~5:03

With a bunch of sprints, Olympics, run races in the middle.

All that while maintaining a 40-45 hours work weeks and a family.

 

An MBA is not an excuse to not kick ....

 

 

 

2013-02-21 12:15 PM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

I started distance running when I started law school (2005) -- it gave me something else to do and gave me a sense of accomplishment when I was struggling with the Rule Against Perpetuities

You may not have time to put in a ton of training, but you may enjoy having some smaller/ low key events to train for and race.

Like others said ^^ exercise/ training is a big stress reliever.

Congrats on getting in to your program and good luck!

2013-02-21 12:18 PM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
Just do it for fun and as a an excuse for a weekend get away.  I am just finishing my bachelors up in May but have been working full time, married with two little boys and taking 4 classes a semester for the last two years.  Motivation has been hard to come by so what I do is sign up for a race once a month out of town.  this gives me an excuse to still compete and also spend much needed time with my wife and kids.  Triathlons are a huge stress reliever and I normally come back more focused.


2013-02-21 12:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
maintain your base so when your done with school you have something to work off of.
2013-02-21 9:21 PM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

It's funny that I come on the board for the first time in a while and this thread is here. After 12 years and more than 40 races -- including a very, very ugly Ironman finish last year -- I'm tapped.

 

Sixty-hour weeks in the new job certainly aren't helping. I'm considering a year off or maybe just showing up at a race or two and what happens, happens.

 

It all used to be so desperately important ...

2013-02-22 5:07 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
Not sure if you are working while in school,married and have kids but IMHO stressors never go away they just change....other things will challenge yourtraining time.

So maybe you can train but may not have the time for HIM, or IM prep....and as the above poster said training is a stress reliever...good luck
2013-02-22 5:30 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
triper - 2013-02-21 10:21 PM

It all used to be so desperately important ...

Seasons...

Taking care of one's self should never be something that get's lost along the way.. I have a spouse that put's in huge hours at work and he's also in school working toward an advanced degree... it get's crazy and I see him wiped.. often.

2013-02-22 5:38 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
Hey, there's no requirement for you to race, or even train. If you're not enjoying it, then do something else for a while and see if you feel like coming back in the future. Try to keep up some level of fitness, but if you're not enjoying a steady diet of pure s/b/r, then find something else that will be fun and motivational for you - do some strength training, try a bootcamp, sign up for a mud run or century ride, train to PR a running race, etc. You need to find the thing that will make it interesting for YOU. I've been at this for ~ a decade now, and I've definitely had some seasons when I was less motivated than others. I took at least one season completely off from racing, but continued to train, largely focusing on building up my running fitness that season. This year will likely be another season that my racing will be pretty minimal. There's nothing wrong with taking a step back and taking some time off if you're priorities are elsewhere right now...



2013-02-22 6:56 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

Lots of good posts, which when based on personal experience makes them that much more relevant.

The only thing I'll add is that it's MUCH easier to stay in shape than get in shape so try and find something that works for you until you decide whether tri's are doable right now..

The posts along the lines of exercise being a stress reliever are spot on and for me personally it's a life saver...

I'm not much good to anyone if I miss too many workouts...The pendulum can swing too far in the other direction too however that isn't your issue, it's a whole 'nother thread and debate..

Good luck...

2013-02-22 7:30 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
No worries, do something else. I got to the point two years ago that I didn't like having a regimented training schedule, forced runs, bricks etc. Why force myself to stick to an artificial schedule? Its not like I get paid or sponsored. I had enough deadlines and schedules in my life that I didn't need those creeping into my recreating. It stopped being fun for me.

I started running and riding for the sake of running and riding. No watches, GPS, splits or anything, just going for a bike ride, going for a run...it is wonderful. I began to view triathlons as part of my overall fitness, something I enjoy doing, similar to a pic-up game of basketball or soccer. No longer a triathlete, but rather a fit person who enjoys triathlons. I will enter a few races a year, races that are fun, social, nice people or are located near family...races that align with my goals. There is a great race which is cheap ($35), has tons of food and beer afterwards and is located in a guys back lawn...it is a GREAT race. That is what triathlons are all about to me.

I also tried a few other things. Some bicycling touring, Xterra Offroad Tri events, fly with some friends to a fun city for a running event etc.

Get back to what is fun, then ride the wave. Life is too short to do otherwise.
2013-02-25 8:02 AM
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Camden Wyoming, Delaware
Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

Thanks for all of the replies.

Just to clarify, I haven’t stopped “working out”, I’m just not training for races this year.  I still run a few times a week in addition to doing crossfit, but my available time has made it such that a R-B-S training schedule is going to be impossible to maintain.

Temporary priority shift I guess.

2013-02-26 1:11 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation

I'll go market contrarian here....

Have you thought about starting an MBA tri club?  Most MBA programs have all kinds of athletic clubs as a way to wind down and build relationships with your classmates -- mine had hockey, golf, squash, tennis, flag football, rugby, etc.  

Finding a few new training partners might reinvigorate your passion for the sport.  

In my experience, the time commitment ebbed and flowed throughout the year -- any semester that involved recruiting was very very busy -- but once the job search was done, people had a lot more free time.

2013-02-26 8:00 AM
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2013-02-26 8:20 AM
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Subject: RE: Lost my motivation
I do crossfit training and I really enjoy it. That will still keep you fit for when/if you decide to reenter the tri world.

Triathlons are just events, it is not a way of life. Lots of other events and things to engage in.

Cheers
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