feeling down after a big race...

[rocknrollgirl]

Well, my season just ended today. Yippee!!!!! I am very tired and I am gonna be sore, but I am happy to be done.

I am taking this week off. Next weekend I am going on a social ride and out to lunch with two of my friends. After that I am planning on doing some hiking, and hitting the gym.

I just finished a second round of PT for my knee and I need to keep my weight training at the top of my list of prioroties.

We are going to do a 5k Turkey trot too, just to have something fun of the schedule.

Also two of my friends on my race team and I have made a list of our mt bike weaknesses, and we plan on working on those in the off season. It is very difficult to work skills when you are on a group training ride. So we have asked a couple of the really good riders on our team to meet up with us in Nov and Dec to work on some technical skills. No mileage, just rocks, rocks and more rocks.

So let the off season begin!!!! First hike is in 2 weeks!!!!

[HillSlugger]

I ended last season with problematic knees and unfulfilled goals. I had very definite off season plans for PT and really learning to swim so I really didn't have down time. This year, I'm done as of last week and I'm a bit lost. I definitely feel the need to cut back and scale back for a while. I'm thinking that I'll add some yoga or pilates in for the winter. Other than that, I'm not sure what to do to stay motivated.

[beccaB]

I don't race, but DH and I did 2 centuries and one metric. After the last century 2 weeks ago, I felt a major sense of letdown, if not depression. I was in a bad funk for about a week. It really surprised me, and I felt like I should kick myself in the pants and get over it. Early in the season the husband wanted us to consider doing centuries, and I was convinced I could MAYBE do 50 miles. After going on a few longish rides and actually feeling really good, and with a friend convincing me we could do it, we DID do it. I think maybe the let down for me comes from the fact that I used to be a fairly competitive runner and there were always spectators at those events cheering for the finishers. I don't see very much of that at the organized centuries, and in my mind I know my road miles are going to become less as darkness and winter kick in. Also, along my bus route are road markings from one of the events, which is a daily reminder. I should probably be really amazed that we accomplished WAY more than I ever thought we could.

[Iris616]

Jocelyn-I'm in the same place as you. I've had a hard time being motivated since the end of September, when I was scheduled for my first tri. The loss of daylight is especially hard for me because I like to work out in the morning but have to be done by 6:30.

I think the shift in my household with the start of school (DH teaches, little one in Kindergarten, oldest away at college) causes a transitional period that makes finding time to exercise much more challenging.

I don't have a solid idea of how to get through this winter, so input from others has been helpful. I did commit to a workout challenge on this blog:
http://momonbikemob.blogspot.com/
Which is organized by another TE'er. And I'm hoping it helps.

[Velobambina]

I decided to cut back on my outdoor riding mileage for the winter, probably a necessity anyway due to the weather. Not easy for me mentally, since riding outside is my quiet, commune w/nature time. I'm stuck in a windowless, soundproofed, dark tomb of an office all day, so I value my time outdoors.

DH moved the rowing machine into the sunroom where I have my trainer set up. I plan to do more cross training during the off-season - row in addition to riding outdoors or when weather requires, on the trainer.