I recently had a bit of a dip in motivation on my way towards Berlin Marathon at the end of September so it seems a good time to stop and reflect a little on what caused it and discuss some remedies so that I can apply them to my training going forward.
The Negative bit - The Problems
Boredom....
This is the most topical issue for me at the moment. Training for The Wall I got into a routine of doing long slow plods which was ok at the time, particularly with the longer distances allowing me to get further away and run less familiar routes. The new goal, pushing limits farther than I had done before also helped.
But with the return to marathon training bringing with it less long routes at more familiar (for which read shorter) distances I didn't like I was pushing anything. It all became a bit monotonous....
Energy....
As my mileage increases I often find that my appetite decreases - not a good thing when you're using more and more energy! This can result in me crashing, feeling like training is the last thing I want to do and generally becoming a bit (more) of a grumpy bugger. Also, after running in the evening when it is late and I'm tired, there isn't much incentive to eat as well as I should if I'm not really hungry.
Time....
Training can take up a lot of free time and it can be frustrating when you have to make compromises with other commitments, even when they are things that you want to do, because they can feel like they are getting in the way. Focus is good, but not to the extent that you're not able to find a compromise with other life pressures. This whole thing is (for me at least) a hobby and so I really should enjoy it! Well most of the time at least...
None of which is to say that if you're training well and hard, you shouldn't get tired and have to make some compromises - just that it should be within reason and not drive you (and your friends / loved ones) into the ground! However... getting the right balance can be easier said than done!
The Positive Bit - The Solutions
Mix Up The Training
As I mentioned boredom has been a bit of a problem for me recently so making sure it isn't a problem is going to be very important over the next few months. To try an avoid it I have tried to be a bit more varied than I have been in the past when thinking about my training routine. I put to together a list of different things I think I need to cover to make sure I am prepared for the desert - things like strength (e.g. for carrying a pack over long distances) and heat training. Among other things I have built gym sessions in my weekly training so I can exercise inside with clothes on and do some strength exercises.
Get Some New Music
Another boredom-busting method I now use quite regularly is to download some new music before a long run, or if I am feeling a little down with it all. It can really help to enthuse and entertain me. If there is no new music that I like when I need it, rummaging about in my music library to put together a collection of my favorites also helps.
Talk / Write About It
Talking with friends or a coach can help to get things off your chest and get another more independent perspective. I have also found that writing about my training, along with giving me record to look back at, helps put things into perspective. Writing takes a lot of concentration for me so it can help to focus and refine my thoughts while ironing out the irrational bits.
Get the Nutrition Right
This is something I have got wrong a few times and can ruin an otherwise good training period and a food diary can make a big difference. Eating the right things and enough of them makes me feel so much better!
