Run Run Away

Question:

Others have already suggested finding some partners to train with, the only problem is they’re free and you’re looking to buy some motivation. Easiest way I know to do that is set a lofty race goal then plunk down the money it takes to enter.  Worked for me!  I set myself the goal of finishing my first IM then paid the entry fee for the Great Floridian.  Haven’t had any motivation problems since. All joking aside, the real key is setting goals.  Give yourself a reason to train.  Now get out there and run or bike or swim or something! Train Hard, Finish Strong! Gordon (Yakabo) Fesenger

Response:

10 Tips for Ultimate Motivation 1. DHEA is great for exhausted adrenals 2. Try a few cups of coffee 3. Set goals 4. Get a training partner (preferably a good looking one) 5. Get a coach- he/she will kick your ass! 6. Why do you want to do the triathlon? Meaning overrides everything else!!! 7. Strip down and look in the mirror. 8. Kick yourself in the ass. 9. Drink 3 cups of coffee. 10. Sit in a chair and read about triathlons for the rest of your (short) life.

Response:

So there is a little bump in your path before beginning each workout. What do you think the rest of us have?  Total enthusiasm that enables us to go rushing out the door for a ten mile run or flinging ourselves mindlessly into the water for a 3500 meter swim or flying into the cold wind for a thrilling ride?  I run before dawn, after I first push aside the almost overwhelming desire to stay put.  I sit at the edge of the pool accepting nasty cracks from the lifeguard about how long am I going to wait.  I stand at my threshold of Catatonia, bike in tow, with my own invisible hand at my back pushing me through. So my suggestion is: Look at that bump in your path, recognize and acknowledge it, accept the fact that what you’re about to do is decidedly less comfortable than any alternative, then step over the mental obstacle and do it.  The bump doesn’t go away; you just have to expect it and trample on it. At my first step, first lap, first pedal stroke, I’m very eager and happy and as enthusiastic as anyone who doesn’t have to push through that sort of inertia. Ruth Kazez

Response:

I like the idea of group workouts, but sometimes even that gets to be too much for me. Whenever I encounter these feelings, in anything, I think its most important to go back to the basics. Why are you doing triathlons?  What is appealing about it? The answers to these questions obviously vary from person to person, ranging from competition to staying healthy, and from testing oneself to triathlon as some sort of status symbol.  I think when you realize why it is that you like to do these things in the first place, working out, and getting motivated to do so just fall into place. If not, take some time off, getting away from something you are so involved with could be the best medicine.  This is not to suggest that you are overtrained, but perhaps you are over-triathloned. Another alternative that I really enjoy, and that helps others as well is volunteering.  As an athlete yourself you are among the best candidates to be a volunteer for a race.  You know how you like races to be run and therefore how to help to make races better with your effort. Besides, there’s nothing like being in the raceday atmosphere without all the tension and pressure normally associated with it.  In my limited experience, this has been a great motivator for me to get back onto the training wagon.  Whenever I’m forced to watch an event that I most likely would have competed in, I find that it really rejuvenates my desire to get back into the action. Well, I hope this helps and good luck getting back into it. Jeff Larson University of Wisconsin-Madison Triathlon Club says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I seem to have a curious problem and I wonder if anyone had anything like it. I’m really thrilled with triathlon itself, I mean I love the sport, every time I pick up a magazine about triathlon I identify myself with it and love to read articles, books or anything about triathlon. However when it comes down to the "real business" I find myself to have no will to sit on the bike or even to slip in my running shoes. Altough I have enough time to train (I get off work by 18h) I just don’t have the will to start. I really like to participate in the events but I’m losing a big part of the season because of this lack of motivation. Suggestions, diagnostics, anyone? thanx in advance

Response:

Try watching a video of an IM event. IMH 94 does it for me, hey I even edited out all the ads. Hang out with other triathletes and listen to them talk about their training, always gets me motivated. He rode HOW FAR on Saturday?…… It also depends so much on your goals, mine is to finish Roth this year. This helps, but sometimes I really have a hard time getting out the front door, or onto the mag trainer.  I have 20 hours a week free to train, I still seem to end up rushing to train late in the afternoon sometimes, well often:-) It gets done but it’s not always easy. Sometimes the toughest part of my workout is opening the front door, after that the threshold runs are easy:-) — Phil Squire Going for it in Roth 98. http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/pstri.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to have a curious problem and I wonder if anyone had anything like it. I’m really thrilled with triathlon itself, I mean I love the sport, every time I pick up a magazine about triathlon I identify myself with it and love to read articles, books or anything about triathlon. However when it comes down to the "real business" I find myself to have no will to sit on the bike or even to slip in my running shoes. Altough I have enough time to train (I get off work by 18h) I just don’t have the will to start. I really like to participate in the events but I’m losing a big part of the season because of this lack of motivation. Suggestions, diagnostics, anyone? thanx in advance

Response:

I seem to have a curious problem and I wonder if anyone had anything like it. I’m really thrilled with triathlon itself, I mean I love the sport, every time I pick up a magazine about triathlon I identify myself with it and love to read articles, books or anything about triathlon. However when it comes down to the "real business" I find myself to have no will to sit on the bike or even to slip in my running shoes. Altough I have enough time to train (I get off work by 18h) I just don’t have the will to start. I really like to participate in the events but I’m losing a big part of the season because of this lack of motivation. Suggestions, diagnostics, anyone? thanx in advance

Response:

Been there.Most of us have.The training partner suggestion is the best.Another one is pick a rival that is just slightly better than you.Collect race results that he or she has JUST beaten you.Post this copy on your fridgerator,next to where you store your bike,right above you computer screen moniter.Instant motivation!!Helps to have a rival that is a big brag and a general pain in the butt.Hope you get through this quickly.Good weather is at our door.               Randy

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        Group workouts are a really good solution. I have started doing speed work with a group, and it really helps when there is a group of people experiencing the same kind of hurt you are. I have met many people in the sport who get caught up in the loneliness of the long-distance runner lifestyle. I was like that for a while until I realized how much more fun it is being with people. I seemed only natural, one of the best parts of racing is meeting like minded individuals (look, he doesn’t have hair on his legs either , and group workouts are simply an extension of this mentality. Try masters swimming, bike clubs, and group runs. (often run out of local sports stores). Cheers David Barclay IMC 1997: 11:55:59 Triathlon: "Swim, Bike, Crawl"

Response:

I can sympathize.  I’ve been more of a fan for a long time, though I did run and swim in high school.  Gradually, I’m taking up running again, and I don’t have any immediate plans to do a triathlon at all (1).    What helped for me was to remember that with sports, like with most things in life, you have to like what you are doing right now, enjoy the experience.  I run, but I don’t push it unless I feel like it, and I usually find I have more stamina (if not speed), than I thought.  Maybe I’ll wind up enjoying really hard runs, maybe my runs will never get longer or faster than they are, but the important thing is that I get the physical and mental benefits of running, and that I actually do it. (1)Remind me I said this a year from now when I’m asking how to transfer my homemade gu bars from my full-body wetsuit to the carrying case next to the pace computer on my Cannondale. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to have a curious problem and I wonder if anyone had anything like it. I’m really thrilled with triathlon itself, I mean I love the sport, every time I pick up a magazine about triathlon I identify myself with it and love to read articles, books or anything about triathlon. However when it comes down to the "real business" I find myself to have no will to sit on the bike or even to slip in my running shoes. Altough I have enough time to train (I get off work by 18h) I just don’t have the will to start. I really like to participate in the events but I’m losing a big part of the season because of this lack of motivation. Suggestions, diagnostics, anyone? thanx in advance

Response:

Altough I have enough time to train (I get off work by 18h) I just don’t have

the will to start. I really like to participate in the events but I’m losing a big part of the season because of this lack of motivation. Suggestions, diagnostics, anyone? Hey… Not recommending this for everyone, and it won’t work if you don’t want it to… but have you ever considered hypnosis? Regards, Steven J. Dykstra, M.S., C.H. Certified Hypnotherapist Trek Associates PO Box 110 Palmer, MA 01069 Tel/Fax: 413 283 6645 Web:  http://pages.prodigy.com/checknsee/trek.html

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