energy is so low! just need to vent

[ehirsch83]

Hey Ladies!
I just need to vent on my frustration of my energy levels.
I haven't done anything workout oriented since Sunday(when I ran 9 miles b/c the winds were to crazy to bike). And today,wed., I still have zero energy!

I somehow need to find a better balance between training and work! I am a horseback riding instructor, and I also put in rides on anywhere from 1-3 horses a day, 4 days a week and I set feed 5 days a week. When I teach, usually 3-4 hours a day, I walk around the whole time! I seem to follow my students around the ring so they can hear me better and I can observe them in more detail, I can not just stand still!
Then there is setting feed, we have 40 horses and each day I set dinner and breakfast, it takes about an hour and involves lifting heavy 50lb bags of feed and emptying them into containers so I can scoop the grain.


So even though I only have to be at work early 3 days a week(by early I mean 8:30) and the rest of the week I don't have to go in until 12(but I am there until 6:30 or so). The wear and tear of being outdoors and physically active in one way or another is amazing!

I started my job in Sept. and until Dec. I was finishing my B.A. so the bike suffered greatly. Since Dec. though I have been back into full training but can only seem to handle about 2 weeks of putting in 12-15 hours on the bike before my body seems to shut down.

I haven't worked out since Sunday and the weather was beautiful this morning, but I couldn't drag myself off the couch!

Does anyone have any advice? or do I just need to find a new job. I am actually looking into getting my alternate teaching license and become an elementary ed. teacher, but until then I need to figure out how to continue without completely wiping myself out. Right now I am only riding the bike 5 days a week, but only very rarely do I have a complete day off of everything. (Last friday I actually did nothing! I had the day off and I didn't even do the long ride I had planned...)

tired of being tired...

[kacie tri-ing]

I'm sorry! I will say that I teach 5th, 6th, and 7th grade, and I don't think that teaching is your solution to getting off of your feet. Kids may be small, but a classroom full of them packs a lot of punch. I don't think I have felt well rested in the 4 years I've spent in the classroom Go into teaching if it the only thing in the world you want to do. You have to want to do it with all of your heart to stay with it. That being said, when things are good as a teacher, they are really satisfying. I often think that I would rather work more in the outdoors than trapped inside a school building. Clearly we all need some balance!

[ehirsch83]

I'm actually not looking into teaching to get off my feet! I love working with kids, most of mine are between 6-13. I am just amazed at how much of an impact I can make on them when I see them only once or twice a week and want to put my time and effort towards it full time. Also, in this economy my job is not very stable! Extra curricular is the first thing parents will pull when the money isn't there, and I am paid only when I have a student(and granted, I am not looking for a ton of money since I want to be a teacher! I just want to know what I am making).

I also want a normal work week, I can not tell you the last time I had a weekend or an evening

[maillotpois]

"Only" riding the bike 5 days a week? I don't know how long or hard your rides are, but that's a lot of days to be riding. I find my performance is best when I am riding more like every other day.

Given how physical your job is, are you sure you are eating enough good quality food to fuel your workdays in addition to your training?

[Smilie]

"Only" riding the bike 5 days a week?

That made me chuckle as well! How many days do you have in your week?! I think 5 days is quite a bit actually. You do enough to make you tired, your body needs to rest!

But, I know how it is to want to be doing something all of the time, soooo, how is your iron level? I have been really tired at times this week. I didn't do my indoor training on Monday and still I have been really tired. Had my iron level checked and I am pretty low. So upping my iron, by eating more cereal and back on my multivitamin to see how that works with my energy level. I know when I don't eat cereal in the mornings my iron levels drop quite a bit.

Just a thought to consider! Hope you get back to riding, uhm, 7 days a week!

[SheFly]

You are putting a lot of physical effort into your job - that needs to be taken into account as PART of your training! If you are training to race (and I think I remember that you do), you need to be careful about how much you are really doing. And I agree with MP - 5 days of riding (your bike) a week is a lot - right now, I am riding 4-5 days, but I don't have a physically demanding job (desk jockey for an IT company). And the two days I DON'T ride, I'm not out doing another physical activity.

You're doing too much, and you're body is tired... Just my opinion. Be careful though - sounds like you are headed for burnout.

SheFly

p.s.
Do you have a coach? If so, do you tell your coach what you are doing for WORK in addition to your training?