Burnt out?

[Aggie_Ama]

Chicago- Marathon training is on the agenda for next year, which is why I am training for a hilly 5 miler right now. I haven't been a regular runner in about 2 years so this is a new challenge and I think that is why it excites me.

I guess my panic button came on because of my past life. I was a really good bowler, seriously. I went all over the country, won big time awards, it consumed all my time and is how I met my husband! I had started at 6 but at about 21 I put down the bowling balls. It was also another sport with a lot of cattiness and expectations. I got to the point I didn't feel like trying to meet them so I walked away. Quit the college club team and just walked away. I tried league a couple more times but it just wasn't working for me. I still have my bowling balls and shoes but it has been 3 years since I used them.

I just don't want to crash and burn on cycling. It just is weird when you find yourself in a different spot. I think I will be back in the saddle, just need to decompress for awhile.

I did get a bit OCD about racking miles, would feel awful if I didn't have a hundred mile week. Now I log them after every ride but it is more like "wow look at how many mountain biking miles I have done, crazy!" It is also about a maintenance record keeping.

[chicago]

^^^^^^^^

awwwwwwwwwwwww Aggie.. I so know how you feel. I have felt that so many times in so many ways in so many aspects of my life. I know how it feels. Earlier this summer the boyfriend and I both crashed big time... too many weekends out of town, too many century(s) too fast, it was nuts. So we just stopped... for the latter part of June and said "no more" for a few weeks... no more. Sometimes you just need to say "no more".

I can related to the OCD about logging the miles, argggggh!! All my friends are doing Ironmans... I feel like a loser with xxx miles, it's crazy!!

So you are most likely doing the right thing. Everything new gets old... and then it moves into maintenance mode... just like our jobs, our commute to work, hopefully not our husbands and SO's... (but then maybe sometimes, LOL)

Honestly... I think being honest about how you are feeling is most important. Cycling is great, but certainly it's not everything. Life is soooooooooooo big... maybe you just need to see what else is out there.. "while" riding on that sweet bike

oh and not to mention... I can sooooo help you with that marathon goal... it's great, you will love it!! The boyfriend is planning his 1st marathon in May 2009 at The Flying Pig. Marathon's are great... you can do it!!!

[crazycanuck]

Last year I put a lot of pressure on myself to rack up the km's, etc etc. I was doing 160km+/wk, did well at many mtn bike events and my first 200km. I wanted to do 10,000km last year.

It took a cycling mishap to bring me back down to reality. Spending 4 months away from something I love made me think about how much it means to be out there! I've spent the last 6 months getting myself back to the shape I was and will probably need a bit more time..

I'm desperate to get my right leg muscles to the exact strength I require to jump out of the saddle quickly. I am desperate to do longer distances but am not going to beat myself up if I don't do one right away. Patience...

The trails, your bike and the cycling community will always be there. If you need to take time away to rejuvinate yourself, then so be it.

C

[newfsmith]

It is normal to burn out when you are passionate about something. It comes back if you just let the embers rest.

[sundial]

I just don't want to crash and burn on cycling. It just is weird when you find yourself in a different spot. I think I will be back in the saddle, just need to decompress for awhile.

I've given this more thought and I've noticed that not only have I lost my desire to cycle, but other things as well. I think I'm in one of those cycles where I feel apathetic about.....everything. The interesting thing is others feel apathetic too. It feels like something is pressing down, as if everything feels like a chore--like it doesn't matter if we try.

I wonder if we are more sensitive to atmospheric changes than we previously thought and, as a result, may have a bearing on our energy level.

I am only hoping that with the cooler temps it'll give me a boost and that I'll truly desire to ride again. I want to try and focus on enjoying the ride and not focus on performance, mileage, and numbers. Maybe I'll pack my watercolors with me on the mtb and do a plein aire painting.

[chutch]

I find that every year around the end of August/first of September I get really bummed out, no motivation, just a major slump. Then I get revived as soon as the weather starts to change and that crisp fall feeling starts up.

Now that I've figured it out, I give myself a break around this time of year and don't beat up on myself if I don't ride a lot. I try to do other activities and start to plan for fall riding and adding in some cross training as the daylight gets shorter.

[Aggie_Ama]

Today I went and did my longest mountain bike ride to date but that only matters in I was able to spend 2.5 hours in the lovely outdoors. It was 14 miles of trails, I was excited to notice a marked improvement in bike handling. I also noticed the squirrels, two big doves (safe from hunting season when in the park) and and girl about 12 riding with her dad! I felt happy, content and unpressured. I think I just need to loosen up and let myself just be, pick the activity that suits my mood and not pressure myself to do one because I haven't in a while. No goals, no bars to reach, just ride when I want to and enjoy it.

[wildhawk]

Now you’re talking Aggie - just ride for the fun of it and take a break with mileage. I find that on days when I tell myself I will just do however many miles that I want to that I actually end up with more energy and notice more things. Sometimes it is good to just step back and enjoy the scenery! As an artist and avid nature lover, it is easy for me to do that on most rides, although I am disciplining myself to set some rides in as strictly training rides. I am mostly burnt out on my job - I have been at it for over 18 years at my current company and vacation time seems to be few and far between. So getting back into cycling is having a very positive effect on my other interests as well and DH and I are having a blast. Glad you had such an awesome ride this weekend! Hang in there!

[Dogmama]

I like everybody's answer. Here's my problem - I decide that I'm going on "my own ride" and then I get passed. Something clicks inside of me and before I know it, I'm out of the saddle and on a mission!

I did that yesterday. Went on an El Tour training ride. It was supposed to be 45 miles. I did 58 because I deliberately went off track to get away from the crowd. Came home exhausted, sore & discouraged.

Bahhh!

[sundial]

I think I just need to loosen up and let myself just be, pick the activity that suits my mood and not pressure myself to do one because I haven't in a while. No goals, no bars to reach, just ride when I want to and enjoy it.

That's the spirit! Just enjoy the ride and leave it all behind on the trail.

[smilingcat]

mayyybbeee this too is my problem of late. I keep finding excuses not to ride. Well the upcoming event the lighthouse century is going to be a no show for me. WORK really is converging onto that weekend. And I have to be at work (most likely). So this is a real excuse or is it? I keep running into these kinds excuses.

My other excuse is if I'm tired or lacking sleep, I don't go out to train. That was what caused my last really serious accident about 8 years ago. And I can't afford another head banging crash even with a really good brain bucket.

I know I should when I do it feels good; but, the malaise before hand is keeping me tied to my house. blahhhh with tongue hanging out

Maybe I need to move back to a ski resort town and get back into skiing.

[Dogmama]

For me, it comes down to competing with myself. And not in a good way, like "You can do it." My self-talk is more like, "You're lazy, uncommitted, flakey, ungrateful..." etc.

In today's world, why the heck would I want to do that???

I need to get back to the reason I started to ride. And it wasn't to beat myself up because I'm not training to ride the next century. It was about enjoying the outdoors, clearing my head, getting some exercise & relaxing.

If riding is getting to be a job, forget it for awhile. It will come back if it's supposed to. Or - maybe it was a stepping stone to other things like running, yoga or hiking. Relax & let life come to you, rather than forcing the river to change its course.