Hi all! I’m Courtney from Run, Courtney, Run. Lately I’ve been feeling a little burnt out and I thought it would be a great topic to write about and share with all of you. The following are just a few tips I try to follow when I’m feeling like I’m out of juice.
1. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I think this is the most important point to remember. It is always good to have goals and to push yourself to be your best BUT its not the end of the world if you don’t always get a PR or first in your age group.
2. Remember to change things up. Sometimes its good to do something different. Are you a runner? Maybe its time to go out for a bike ride or hit the pool. In my case, I love going to spin class.
3. Sign up for a race that is just for fun. Make sure you have one race on the schedule that is just for you to go out and have fun. Maybe you’ll wear a costume or run with a bunch of your friends but either way its a good way to remember why you love running so much.
4. Take a break every once in a while. Its ok to take a day or two off or even a week. You’ll come back refreshed and ready to rock again!
5. Remember to stay inspired. I think this really helps me the most. When I’m starting to feel burnt out and not feeling very motivated anymore, I turn to blogs for inspiration. There are so many inspiring people out there that can really get you out of your funk.
6. Have workout buddies! Intense, solitary workouts are great for your training but a little time getting your sweat on with a friend is good for your soul.
7. Don’t sign up for too many races. Maybe this isn’t true for everyone but I think if you do too many races, it becomes too much work and you don’t enjoy yourself as much as your could if you only had a select few!
8. Have a goal. You still need to remember my first point but having a goal does really help to keep you motivated and something to look forward to.
9. Listen to your body. If you’re sick (GI symptoms or a chest cold) or injured, call it a rest day, recharge and try again tomorrow.
10. Try a different route. If you usually hit the treadmill, take it outside. If you’re tired of looking at the houses in your neighborhood, hop to a different ‘hood or try a new park or running path. On vacation in a new city? Check it out while you log your miles!
Courtney, you have brought up some very interesting points. I have never considered the term before even though I actively avoid burnout! I have a little trouble identifying if it is mainly physological or physical or even a ballance of both. I am currently running over 200 miles a month and have found I have had to change my schedule to keep going. Although to be honest, I have recently changed from training for my first 2 half marathons to training for my first full marathon so things had to change anyway. I think because I have only been running for just over 2 years, since I turned 50, I have not had as much trouble with this. I think mixing up the type of events entered helps to keep the motivation. Training specific to those events means you change your routines also keeping interest. Experimentation in training and nutrition can consume a lot of time with days of training passing by quickly as the focus becomes data analasys.
Whatever people need to do it has to mean mixing it all up so it is not the same!
Thanks for your post Courtney, it gives lots of food for thought.
You won a copy of the My Calorie Counter Guide! Email me your mailing address so I can forward it to Everyday Health! :0)
kren2700@gmail.com
(Funny, right? Totally random, I promise!)
I needed to read this, and now I need to set a goal! It’s been awhile since I’ve really trained for something, and this is the time to get started. Now off to find some races around Minnesota… Thanks!
your are welcome!