This kills my pride, but it’s time for an unplanned down week. It’s a case of the dreaded workout burnout.
Oh things were so good just a week and a half ago, in spite of the lousy weather. The type of weather where just looking out the window gets you depressed. It was 33-34 degrees and raining. If you’re from New England you’ve experienced these rain drops. They’re fat, and thick and one step away from being snow. They’ll soak you to the bone one minute; chill you to your bones the next.
So I ran on the treadmill that day. I decided to push it. I did 3 x 2 mile with 3 minutes rest. I-CRUSHED-IT. All of them were 10:20-10:40. And it was effortless. I was riding high. Keep running like this then and just imagine what will happen April 17th (Race Day).
And then there’s this week
This week was a sharp contrast. I’m ravenously hungry every single day; grazing through the pantry non stop; desiring treat after treat. I am seriously tired all the time. 8 pm comes and I’m asleep in my chair.
I try to meditate and Zzzzzzzz; or try to read a book or a long article and Zzzzzzzz….
I’ll sleep 9 hours and then I can’t get out of bed the next morning. Now my back is sore. There’s a shooting pain that radiates up into my neck if I turn left too quickly. I probably slept on it wrong but it’s been bugging me for weeks.
My Body is telling me something
It is clear as day. This is how the body communicates. I have workout burnout. But I don’t want to listen. I want to believe that my 3 x 2 mile workout was just the beginning, that I’m just going to keep getting faster and faster until April when I taper.
Yeah, I’ll just put off that proper rest until April. I’ll take a two week taper, watch what I eat and everything will come in line. I’ll be ready to go.
No. I’m old. I know better. It’s time for a down week. Or maybe two. However long it takes to feel right. Success is not a straight line. Listen to the workout burnout language.
No one gets better and better and better. Imagine a movie where all that happens is the hero wins. That’s one boring ass movie. You win one round (3 x 2 miles) and then you get taught a lesson a round later (this week). To train well, especially as you age and your body recovers slower (first thing to go for me), you have to learn the body’s language. This scene from ’13 days’ is analogous.
Pain=Language
This is part of how our body communicates. Aches, pains, fatigue= language. You have to treat it as information, let go of emotional attachment to the kind of training you’re doing, and respond in kind. I’d love to continue crushing miles and workouts but my body is telling me I’m doing too much. Sore, achey, hungry, tired. The message is clear. So many athletes are masters of ignoring this message and pushing through.
Why? Because fitness rewards pain. The more you can suffer the faster and farther you can go. When that general fatigue, or achy shins and knees appear we often think of it as one more obstacle to push through on our way to the finish line. Our austerity will be rewarded.
That’s the thinking anyway.
Not all pain is created equal. We all know the difference between good and bad pain. Look at the pain and discomfort analytically and figure out what it is trying to tell you. It is language, and to be an athlete means requires us to speak it.
It’s emotional too
There’s also an emotional component to explain our commitment to austerity. My daily workout is an affirmation of my fitness; of part of my identity. Hitting the goal miles, the goal times reaffirms a sense of self and gives me the satisfaction checking a goal off of my list. Missing workouts chips away at that emotional identity.
It’s chemical too
And then there’s a chemical component. If I skip my workout then I don’t get my endorphin rush for that day. Missing your endorphin rush for the day isn’t as powerful as alcohol or drug withdrawal; but it’s there. I call it runner’s guilt. When you’re training a ton and you take a day off, planned or otherwise, it’s on your mind. Somewhere deep in your psyche you’re thinking ‘Maybe I can cut out and get in a few miles.’ ‘Maybe i can get to the gym and do a few quick sets.’ I think it’s the missing endorphins urging us to get out there so we can feel whole again.
If you identify with any of what I’ve described above I want you to remind you
Success is not a straight line
There will be bumps along the road. Roll with them. Will power can get you through, but can also run you into the ground.
Listen to your body. It has great instincts.
You tear yourself down with tough workouts. Literally. Progressive overload breaks down your muscle fibers. You are weaker after a tough lift, a tough run… and then your body adapts to the demands placed on it. It rebuilds to run far if you ask.
To lift heavy if you ask.
To be more flexible if you ask.
It Specifically Adapts to Imposed Demands. SAID Principle.
If you let it; if you rest (occasionally); If you listen to workout burnout;.