Momentum Mondays: When Training Sucks
Well, we have hit June running full steam but I am relieved to have a few more things in order. I moved in with my sister this weekend for a couple months and it is WONDERFUL to not feel like I am transient. I have ONE MORE MOVE in September and I will be settled in. Forever.
My apartment entertaining has looked like this recently so it is LOVELY to have furniture again.
I will be honest with you. Training sucked last week. I am not sure if it is residual fatigue from the race, some unanticipated life stress I dealt with, the fact that I moved or the fact I have barely eaten veggies or taken vitamins this past month, but hitting my target paces is HARD.
I continue to have that strange issue with my calf and I am seeing my coach about that today as well as getting a massage tonight. I am hoping that rest helps, but it is funny that the week of National Run Day, I didn’t want to run at all. It hurt, I lacked motivation and I wasn’t having fun.
This is where it is important to take stock. I have some big races coming up where I needed to hit a certain level of mileage but I also tried to cut myself a break on the speed.
Here are a few things I did this week to combat my running slump:
– I turned my watch setting to the time instead of my speed on intervals. I knew I was moving slower than I wanted but instead of that getting to me psychologically, I just did the best I could and called it a day.
– I made sure I foam rolled and stretched every night before bed to help keep my legs as healthy as possible.
– I added my vitamins back in, especially my iron and I made a concerted effort to drink more water.
– I took an extra rest day.
– I tried to sleep a few extra hours a night.
– I made time to do things just for the fun of it and not to stress out. You don’t always love running and that is ok. I always know something is wrong when I don’t want to put on my running shoes and I take this seriously.
– I made sure the work I did was quality, even if it was slower than usual and didn’t put in any “junk” miles.
– I made an appointment with the experts and not assuming it will go away on it’s own. I am seeing my physio, my naturopath, my chiropractor and my massage therapist.
The BEST way to beat a running slump? Have a little sister that does things like this..
So what did last week’s training look like?
MONDAY: 2 hours of beach volleyball
TUESDAY: 12 KM interval workout with 1 mile and 800 m repeats, 1 hr soccer
WEDNESDAY: 1 hr golf lesson, 6 KM easy run
THURSDAY: rest
FRIDAY: 10 KM run with 5 KM tempo
SATURDAY: 18 KM run
SUNDAY: rest
What do you do when you lose your training motivation or running isn’t quite as fun as it normally is?
Ugh… I was SO right where you are at this time last month. You’ve gone through SO much both physically and mentally, but it sounds like you’re doing all the right things to recover. I totally know the feeling (well not the 48 hour adventure race feeling, but the running-feels-way-less-enjoyable-than-it-should feeling, and just like I did, I know you’ll get through this and be back to your usual run-loving self soon. And I also think you have one very clever massage therapist. 😉
HAHA, you saw that? I almost died laughing.
And thank you, it is helpful to know others who LOVE exercising end up dealing with similar things.
I think it is okay if your body needs a bit of a break. You have been going like crazy lately, so a couple a slower weeks might be just what that calf ordered! xxoxox
And slower weeks is what they will get! 🙂
I’m never usually training for something SUPER important, so when I feel I am burning out I switch things up with my running. Lately having a lenient running schedule has helped immensely. I run almost daily, but allow the runs to be shorter since they are more frequent. I neeeed to get a massage though, NEED.
I love that tip about turning the garmin to time vs. pace. I have an interval workout planned tonight (3x3k)…and I’m getting nervous and sick just thinking of it. And I run by myself lol! My legs feel like lead and I know I’ll be disappointed when I see my paces…I will try the time thing or maybe just listen till I hear 3 beeps and not check my watch till after it’s all said and done. In the end, we can only push the best we can on any given day! To worry or stress over it is silly and wasted energy!
It is so true. If it helps, I had a workout that I was particularly dreading this morning and it went SO well. Here’s hoping it is the same for you tonight!