March 28, 2012

Burnt out

Over the past couple of days, I've realized that I am feeling very burnt out on running. It was especially apparent after the half-marathon, when all of my friends (except Jess) are done training now, and I still have a long way to go until the marathon.

I'm only running four days a week, so I know I'm not over-training. I am just at the point where I completely dread going for a run. I've always dreaded running, but nothing like this. Jessica sent me a text yesterday that said, "I just want to tell you that I don't want to run tomorrow. I'm still going to, but I don't want to." Hahaha, that was exactly how I was feeling about it too.

Our medium length run is now 8 miles. So we made plans to meet today for that. I'm glad we did, otherwise I would probably have procrastinated all day. We agreed to go slow and easy, since neither of us wanted to run today. A "lazy run", if that isn't an oxymoron ;)

I brought a peanut butter Gu and some lemon lime Powerade. I checked the website of the marathon, and they are going to have the lemon lime Powerade throughout the course, so I want to train with it and see how my body reacts to it.

We had a very uneventful 8-mile out-and-back run. At mile 5, I ate my Gu and sipped some Powerade. I felt fine with it, so I think I'll bring it along on our 16-miler on Monday. Right now, I don't even want to think about 16 miles. I have another 4-mile run this week, which I'll probably do on Friday, and then take Saturday and Sunday as rest days, like usual. I really feel like I need them, both mentally and physically.

When I got home, I made a breakfast that I've been having a lot lately. Last week at Kroger, I noticed that they had a bunch of boxes of my favorite cereal on 'manager's special', because they are going to expire in a couple of months. Logically, I knew that buying some and bringing it home was asking for trouble... but I did what any normal person would do and I bought 5 boxes. (What can I say, they were only $1.49!)
I wanted to make sure that I didn't do what I did last time I had this cereal in the house, so I tried using it as an ingredient rather than the main course for my breakfast.

I peeled and chopped an apple, and sprinkled it with cinnamon, then threw it in the microwave for 2 minutes to get it soft. Then I sprinkled on 1/3 cup of the granola, and drizzled with a tablespoon of almond butter. The whole combination was REALLY good. The texture was perfect too.



You know I'm always talking about Hal Higdon's training programs, but I just got his book Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide from the library and I LOVE it so far! The first couple of chapters would probably get anyone excited about doing a marathon. I'm only about 1/4 of the way through the book, but I've gotten a lot of helpful tips so far. It's geared more toward a full marathon, but people training to do a half-marathon would benefit from it as well.

I just read a part last night about feeling burnt out about running, and if you feel that way, it's probably from training too hard. Which makes sense, because I just did a half-marathon race that I wasn't "supposed" to do (it wasn't in my training schedule). I'm going to make sure I take my easy runs very easy, and my long runs even easier. I need to get out of the race-mindset.



My Ragnar team is trying to come up with a team name... something clever that incorporates the fact that we've lost a lot of weight. Any ideas? (By the way, we have not chosen our 12th team member yet--we're working on it though. I will introduce the person when we do.)



Oh, by the way, I posted a bunch of blogs on the "Blog List" page... so if you're looking for something to read, take a look! A lot of those blogs were new to me, and I'm super excited to check them out as well.

23 comments:

  1. A lot of us hitting this mileage point in marathon training are dreading any and all runs. :( You're not alone. I'm on a 3 day per week run schedule which has been WAY better for my body. I cross train at least once a day 3 days per week. I needed a break from running 4 to 5 days per week. I found some fun classes & started incorporated swimming into the mix. Anyway, just wanted you to know you're not alone. :)

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  2. Oh, I meant to ALSO tell you that I have a half marathon Saturday that I DO NOT want to run. This is a first for me. I have secretly wished for illness to strike just so I don't have to go. That's pretty twisted!!! Anyway, I'm going to go participate, but run at an 11 minute pace instead of trying to actually race it. I'm going to use it like a training run. With a 1 mile warm up and a 1 mile cool down....I'll have my 15 mile long run for the week. SWEET!

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  3. What about Spare Tire Poppers? We just used it for March Madness wellness events at work. We had a month long competition. You all popped your "spare tires" by running.

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  4. I don't live that far from you and I was wondering were you get your shoes and Bondibands? I looked at Dick's for the Bondibands and I couldn't find them (Though who knows I might have been looking in completly the wrong place :) ) Thanks so much for the info!!

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  5. I really want to thank you for putting my blog up on your blog list! I've had more views today than I ever have AND I have one new follower (which is a big deal for me!). Thanks again, Katie!

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  6. Mission Slimpossible The Thinner Winners

    That granola looks fab. I love eating mine with yogurt so I get some dairy since I hate hate HATE milk.

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  7. If having the cereal in the house is too much for you can you store it at your moms and go to her house to get a new box when you finish the first box?

    Hope you get our of your running rut, I just bought 2 new work out tees and a pair of capris to help motivate me out of my workout funk!

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    1. I agree with storing the food somewhere else. I have my husband hide the bad foods or store them in the garage because I won't go out there to get them!

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  8. I am gonna give the team name some thought. I love coming up with such things. You will be running right past my old house. Yay! Prettiest part of the run IMO is across the 7 M bridge in Marathon. Hope that past is right around sunset.

    Does you book tell you how to get your mojo back?

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  9. Your post today makes me feel so much better! I've been feeling the same way about running to the point where I just can't seem to finish W4D1 of the C25K! I've tried twice in the past two days. My head just isn't in it, and running is such a mental sport.

    Thanks for the direction to your blog list! I really enjoyed going through the blogs listed so far. It's like your own personal community of healthy living blogs! I love it! I just submitted my blog, www.goaloflosing.com, too!

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    1. keep it up Kay! It took me 2 weeks to get through week 4 but i did it and you will too!!!

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    2. Kay, it seems Week 4 is the week where most people quit C25K (me included)! So don't give up. Just make your own "Week 3.5" and do that one first ;)

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  10. Love the blog, I think a great name for your Ragner team would be Melting away Motivators or Motivation to move. Your all very inspiration and just hearing about some of your other team mates storys (and your own). Has really been motivating me to run (or to atleast move at a fast pace...haha). Hm I just thought maybe even inspiration to move. Anywho maybe you should take 3days off of running, whenever I get sick of the gym I dont go all weekend. By monday I long for the feeling of sweating.The granola apple concotion looked delish!!

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    1. *inspirational, *concoction...i really need to spell check next time.lol.

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  11. Your breakfast looks so good! I do that too, making a trigger food like a condiment instead of main course...like coconut ice cream for example. I put about a tablespoon on vegan almond bars and it's really good that way! I can't believe you are running 16 miles...let alone a marathon! I'm still at my 3.1 but at least I can do it in 43 minutes instead of 50 now :)

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  12. The Diet Disciples! Get it, 12 members? Ha.

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  13. Since you only have one spot and if you have multiple people applying for the team...maybe you can form a second team. I am struggling to find 11 other people to do this race with me and when i saw your post about needing a 12th member, it seemed perfect. However i am sure there are many of us out there that would be great team members. Just something to think about...
    By the way..that breakfast looks amazing! Gonna have to try that. I have a huge addiction to nut butters, so sometimes i have trouble with portion control...

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  14. I love all of that managers special stuff. They do it with vegetables at my store which is perfect for me, since I take them right home to eat em. I think everyone gets sick of running when they're training for a marathon, it's just so repetitive! I try things like buying new clothes to run in, promising myself some sort of treat (usually non food) after, or pick a new route. But the thing that helps me most is thinking about how far I've come, or what I'm looking forward to at the race. Also people that have inspired me. It definitely helps me push through!

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  15. I'm sorry to hear you are burnt out on running. :( I think taking your easy runs super easy will help. Maybe switch to the treadmill and watch some TV or a movie while you run. That way it is something to take your mind off of running.

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  16. My schedule has just been screwed up, so the routine of not thinking about it and just doing it T, TR and S isn't there. I ran my long run yesterday because I know I won't get it in on S. It was tough because I missed a run. Is that even possible? The mentality of just going through the motions and not pushing too hard really works to just get you started. Most times you feel completely different when you're into it and you then you actually want to try and push yourself.

    I use granola in my greek yogurt and it makes a great meal! And $2.99? That cereal is like almost $5 here!

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  17. That breakfast looks to die for and being that it's almost time for my snack, made me a little hungry ;) - i need to recreate that!

    I know the 'burnt out on running' feeling. It happens to me a lot. I seem to go thru phases where I can't get enough of running or I'm totally dreading it. When I'm in dread mode I do what you are doing, continue to run but cut myself slack with pace and distance.

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  18. I have been starting to feel this way lately about running (training for a 10k) and I guess when you are on a strict schedule it can start to feel grueling. I think your plan to do "lazy" running is a good idea. :) I think I will occasionally go out and do some easy running, without my watch and do it just for pleasure, and really take in the scenery. When things start to feel like a job, it sucks. Oh, and I saw that cereal at the store yesterday and thought it looked good, but I know I'd be eating more than a serving also. :)

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  19. I get burned out at the end of the season too. Sometimes, I take a few days off and do "fun" exercises instead, like cycling. Or, I play games when I run, like counting the number of red cars I see or looking in the forest preserve for squirrels while I run. It sounds dumb, but it keeps my mind occupied while my feet move.

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