Yep, absolutely no motivation whatsoever. I don’t think my legs have fully recovered from the marathon. I am still having problems getting my legs to go as fast on the bike as they did before the big race, and tonight I just didn’t even run. Last night, nothing – stayed home and did some work on my computer. Tonight, I was on the stairmaster because I felt like if I had to ride the bike alone tonight for another 45-50 minutes, I might just shoot myself. Figuratively, of course.
Part of me wonders if I have now hit that point of overtraining. I even found the stairmaster difficult to do. What started out as a 45 minute workout on that machine ended up being 30 minutes, and then riding the bike for 15 minutes seemed to drag on forever. In the meantime, I also seemed to be sweating bullets. What do you suggest to get out of an overtraining funk? (Keep in mind I also have a half-marathon in about two weeks, so I can’t just completely stop, no matter how much I might want to.)
Part of me thinks the changes we are experiencing/going to experience, at work, is now manifesting itself in my being unable to concentrate on my workouts in the evening. Don’t misunderstand, I think a lot of the changes to come at my workplace will ultimately be for the better. We have a new director who is pretty dynamic, and seems to really “get” how to work with people. He’s the same age as me, I think, yet our pay grades are so different! However, I don’t think I would want to take on all of his responsibilities – there is something to be said for being an individual contributor, in my book.
A big part of me realizes I am lucky to have a job right now, what with all the layoffs I am hearing about every day when Bill and I first turn on the news in the morning. It’s enough for me to want to not turn on the TV in the morning, and then drive to work in silence so I can’t hear more bad news on the radio. My older brother lost his job a few months ago, and he’s told me how tight the job market is right now. He’s heard about people being offered jobs, then those jobs are delayed, etc. It’s kind of scary, honestly – it takes me back to 2001 when I was laid off, not just once, but twice, in the same year. I also had friends then who were offered jobs, to start on a Monday, only to get a phone call the preceding Friday, telling them that the job was not actually going to exist. One of the companies I worked for hired someone as an independent contractor, only to “reorganize/downsize” two weeks later.
I’ve seen academia downsize before, and now one of the other larger schools in our metropolitan area has put on a hiring freeze that was widely reported in the newspaper. That’s scary.
Sorry to be such a downer.
Guess this all makes a case for trying to stay positive, right? I’m certainly going to try, anyway. Tomorrow is a new day – I’m also going to try to take on more of my husband’s attitude of letting things slide off of my back. Wish me luck.
By the way, if anyone knows of a place that needs a CPA with a lot of auditing experience, just shoot me a note. That’s my shameless plug for my older brother. He’s got a great work ethic, is quite competent, and is also a very decent person.
Completely random, does anyone remember this song?
The Good Kind, by the Wreckers
PLEASE ignore the fact that you’re seeing One Tree Hill in the background – this was the only acoustic version I could find on YouTube. (I like the acoustic one better.)
October 23, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Advice from the top of my head: read more reading junk and run with a partner. When I read more running things, I get pumped up and I want to get into it. Running with a partner pumps me up to run, especially if I run with someone slightly faster because once I get home, I try to think of all sorts of things to make me faster for the next time.
Yeah, the economy is scary now!!!
October 24, 2008 at 7:19 am
Yep, I do appreciate running with a running partner, only mine got shin splints toward the end of August/beginning of September so we have not been able to run together much since. i have also been doing my fair share of reading running stuff. I think part ofthe problem is that when I get up in the morning it’s dark, and then when I get home, it’s jsut about dark. Not enough daylight to run outside now much!
oh and it was 25 degrees when I got up this morning!!
October 24, 2008 at 10:01 am
Perhaps buying some new, fancy running gear will motivate you to get out there. Sounds like it is way cold and I bet you don’t have enough cold weather running gear. Buy some and get your butt out there!
October 24, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Like Chris mentioned, sometimes new running gear or a new playlist will help me feel a little more motivated. Or maybe find a fluffy audio novel and listen to that. Don’t worry about pushing so hard on the bike, elliptical or running… you won’t lose your fitness levels in two weeks. If you just do them at a slightly lower level and listen to something fun, maybe that will take your mind off to other places?
I hear you on the job front. I work in academia as well and we’re currently in a hiring freeze. There is also talks of letting go all the people on probation in light of the huge budget cuts. That would mean my new assistant that has only been working for me a couple months would have to be let go due to the required 6-month probation period placed on new hires. It’s kind of scary, but I’ve been through these budget crunches before… We had a couple years with no raises at all, but eventually pulled through. Hopefully things will turn around soon.
2001 was the year that my husband was laid off, right after we bought a house. He went back to school at that time and got his Masters of Accountancy, thus he’s a CPA/Auditor now. It was hard at the time, but it turned out to be good in the long run.
October 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I definitely think a running buddy would help. I just went out with mine this morning and even though my legs were heavy from the marathon, I pushed through because I like running with her. Have you thought about looking into local running clubs or running stores that have regular group runs? There are several out here that have them tuesday and thursday nights. Then even if you are running in the dark, you are with a group and there is safety in numbers. Also, check the “activities” section on Craigslist. A lot of people post listings looking for running partners.
I also hear you on the job front. I work in advertising and that is the first budget to go when things get bad. We’ve already laid off 2 people from our 7 person office, and I am the next in line. I don’t think it will come to that, but I am aware that it could happen. I figure, if it does happen, all the more reason to try to freelance, which would give me a more flexible schedule for running.
Hang in there! And take it easy on the workouts. You just need to maintain some fitness for that half, but that doesn’t take a lot, so just listen to your body. If you need to cut your workouts in half, just do it.
October 26, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Sorry to hear you are in a funk! I hear it takes a real good 3 weeks to recover? And I can only imagine being kinda let down-the big event is over (even though you rocked it!) You have another goal which I think is great and will help you get back to business.
I totally agree with others on buying something new or getting some new music and looking into a running club. I love the one I joined here.
Hang in there!!!!
October 27, 2008 at 10:23 pm
It seems to me that because your big event is over you’re not feeling too motivated. That always happens to me after a race, I spend the next few weeks not doing as much as I could/should.
If you add to that the current situation, where I can imagine everyone feeling a little depressed, and that plus the ‘post-marathon-depression’ is not a good combination. Just remember how running releases so many endorphins that help you feel happier, and that can help you with other things too, you just have to get started again, don’t have to go too hard, just go.
And I think Chris has a great idea there!! Specially since I think you like to have all kinds of running stuff, didn’t your husband said you are a high maintenance runner already? :p