Where do I find balance?
Since the Hypothermic half I've had some time to think (and wonder where the hell my motivation went.) I've still been training, but it's a chore to start every workout. I'm at a loss as to why though. A couple of my theories:
1. Not doing as well as I'd hoped at the hypo has made me feel like I'm doing all this training and still 2nd last in my age group. Even though I know that I'm still recovering from an injury, did not specifically train for that race, and it's tough to compare a winter finishing time from a fall one. Somehow, it seems like my subconscious feeling of failing is winning
2.Is it just that point in the training? The point where you think I've been doing this for 5-6 days a week since November and still have 4 months to go. Specially when I know I've been at 7-8 hours a week and I'm going to top out at 15.
The knee is doing ok and I can run, but I still have pain when I run longer distances or outside on the ice. Every week I still go for my voodoo doll treatment, since it got to me to the half marathon finish line only two weeks after I couldn't run at all.
My weight is still hovering around 162 lbs. I know the meaning of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. I know what I have to do - count those calories and stop eating crap, but where is the line? I started doing this to lose some weight since seeing my BMI one square from morbidly obese was a real eye opener. I've done that to the tune of 50lbs, but along the way I discovered a love for running and triathlon. It's not a competitiveness addiction, it's being addicted to accomplishing goals. I do this because I love the feeling of setting a goal and reaching it. It's the most empowering thing I've ever experienced.
Back to that line - where do I find balance and happiness in all of this? I love to reach those goals, but what good is it if I'm miserable because I can't have some ice cream or chocolate? I want to be healthy, but I don't want to give up everything I enjoy. If I want whipped cream on my mocha after a long run, I still think I should have it. I know the reason I haven't really pursued a registered dietician is because I know what they're going to say, and I don't want to hear it. I don't like fish, salmon, or dark leafy greens and I know they're going to tell me that's what I need to eat. I also know that dropping 10lbs would be nice and really help on race day. So where do I find balance? Maybe I don't, maybe I have to make a decision I can live with.
In the meantime, if anyone sees my motivation - can you send it back please?
1. Not doing as well as I'd hoped at the hypo has made me feel like I'm doing all this training and still 2nd last in my age group. Even though I know that I'm still recovering from an injury, did not specifically train for that race, and it's tough to compare a winter finishing time from a fall one. Somehow, it seems like my subconscious feeling of failing is winning
2.Is it just that point in the training? The point where you think I've been doing this for 5-6 days a week since November and still have 4 months to go. Specially when I know I've been at 7-8 hours a week and I'm going to top out at 15.
The knee is doing ok and I can run, but I still have pain when I run longer distances or outside on the ice. Every week I still go for my voodoo doll treatment, since it got to me to the half marathon finish line only two weeks after I couldn't run at all.
My weight is still hovering around 162 lbs. I know the meaning of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. I know what I have to do - count those calories and stop eating crap, but where is the line? I started doing this to lose some weight since seeing my BMI one square from morbidly obese was a real eye opener. I've done that to the tune of 50lbs, but along the way I discovered a love for running and triathlon. It's not a competitiveness addiction, it's being addicted to accomplishing goals. I do this because I love the feeling of setting a goal and reaching it. It's the most empowering thing I've ever experienced.
Back to that line - where do I find balance and happiness in all of this? I love to reach those goals, but what good is it if I'm miserable because I can't have some ice cream or chocolate? I want to be healthy, but I don't want to give up everything I enjoy. If I want whipped cream on my mocha after a long run, I still think I should have it. I know the reason I haven't really pursued a registered dietician is because I know what they're going to say, and I don't want to hear it. I don't like fish, salmon, or dark leafy greens and I know they're going to tell me that's what I need to eat. I also know that dropping 10lbs would be nice and really help on race day. So where do I find balance? Maybe I don't, maybe I have to make a decision I can live with.
In the meantime, if anyone sees my motivation - can you send it back please?
posted by Kerry @ 9:51 PM
4 Comments:
At 6:57 AM,
Anonymous said…
You know, I had EXACTLY the same process with repsect to my weight. I lived at 150-160 for years saying "geeze, if I want to eat whipped cream I'm gonna". Funny thing was, I did eventually give it up, lost weight and now, because of training volumes can have it once in a while without gaining weight. It may be a temporary thing... And, maybe you'll decide to do those changes when you are ready. I probably said for >5 yrs I *couldn't* lose weight.
With respect to the southern motivation, I think we are *ALL* feeling it. I've got the same problem and part of it is being REALLY sick of training in snow. You could always try taking a couple of days off to see if that re-invigorates you.... There is plenty of time before your race for you to still get away with a week off if you think it would help.
S5
At 1:02 PM,
Anonymous said…
There's a delicate balance that has to be preserved between training and having a life, and when that is lost... well, that's when motivation starts to lag, or worse yet you become injury-prone.
You need to find the joy in running/cycling/swimming again, and if that means backing off a bit, do it! There's still a lot of time before the tri, and I know you'll be in much better shape than last year! You can and will make a massive improvement on last year's race... IF you're able to have the motivation on race day.
Kerry, you've always been a picture of determination to me. But if you burn yourself out before race day, will that determination (or motivation/will/guts/whatever) be there when the going gets tough on race day? (and in a race that long it will get tough, no matter how well you're trained!)
Be good to yourself!
At 7:54 AM,
Kerry said…
Thanks Ron and S5. I've counted and we're on the 16 week countdown starting Sunday. If you take off 2 weeks for tapering - that is only 14 training weeks. Not as far away as you think.
At 5:25 PM,
Kelodie said…
Oh Kerry... I can relate to this post so much! I feel the same way regarding the weight loss. In the past year, I haven't lost a pound, but I have lost a lot of inches from toning up. I guess it's better than nothing! Have you noticed this too?
As for training, I guess you're not just feeling that way because you're sick of winter training. Take a short break and I'm sure you'll feel better once you took time to reflect on the reasons why you do this.
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