Quote Originally Posted by zombeav View Post
I sit here and shake my head and sigh, as I struggle to find a solution that fits in with my life. I hired a trainer two weeks ago, and that is going well. I need someone to push me when I can't push myself. I am still doing my work-outs 5-6 times a week, but it is a mental struggle nearly every time. The pain and fatigue don't seem worth it sometimes. I am a therapist, and I use my mind and body to work everyday, and it's exhausting on it's own sometimes (most times).

My questions are:
How the heck am I going to ride the storm out?
How will I be able to do the Tri's and rides I do every year if I can't match my intensity of prior years?
Is this all there is?????

If anyone has experienced these feelings or has gone through a similar situation, anything that you can share with me will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Z~
Congrats. for hanging there to finish your studies.

Instead of cycling for competing against yourself, rethink what cycling TRULY is a gift to enjoy..for life.

And cycle accordingly without much expectation of yourself except to enjoy yourself. Since you seem goal oriented having an odometer on bike later might be good.

But not right now. You need to reignite love of cycling again. Forget about competing even against yourself.

Rethink perhaps going on touring ride or very long ride in summer or fall. Gets you to ride more often, prepare but with a much more pleasant, less competitive goal. I mean aiming for at least a 100 kms. day ride..or similar. Riding with pannier weight ..is another form of fitness. Don't always think of tris, races, etc.

I'm actually still trying to get used to the city where I moved a few months ago. Seems like where I live and the traffic speed (too many one way fast streets downtown) is such that I tend to think more /plan more about cycling ..instead of spontaneously jumping onto the bike.

I just have to learn more about the routes in this city.

By the way, this freakin' city has some reversing traffic lanes a certain times downtown. Stupid. Unheard of in Toronto and Vancouver where I lived. So my hang-ups are slightly different.