Legs are 9/10; Motivation 3/10; Performance 9/10; What gives?
#1
Elitist
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Legs are 9/10; Motivation 3/10; Performance 9/10; What gives?
I've been riding pretty fast lately. I've scored some PRs and near PRs in timed events on the track.
Lately, though, my motivation to race just hasn't been there. No "fire in the belly". I don't think I'm overtraining (or even overreaching) as my volume hasn't been very high. But, the intensity has been high.
For example, yesterday I felt like it was gonna be a crap day for me to race. So bad that I didn't even want to do a Flying 200M time trial because I didn't want a piss-poor time on the results website. I scratched my start. Then a teammate told me to "Race your bike." and I did. Recorded a best time for me at my home track and 0.1" off of my personal best. What the heck? I didn't even feel like I was giving 100%
I've had pros tell me about how they sometimes have the best results when they are racing tired. Could this be that? Can anyone relate? Not sure if I should push through this and stick to the program or back off a bit.
Thoughts?
Lately, though, my motivation to race just hasn't been there. No "fire in the belly". I don't think I'm overtraining (or even overreaching) as my volume hasn't been very high. But, the intensity has been high.
For example, yesterday I felt like it was gonna be a crap day for me to race. So bad that I didn't even want to do a Flying 200M time trial because I didn't want a piss-poor time on the results website. I scratched my start. Then a teammate told me to "Race your bike." and I did. Recorded a best time for me at my home track and 0.1" off of my personal best. What the heck? I didn't even feel like I was giving 100%
I've had pros tell me about how they sometimes have the best results when they are racing tired. Could this be that? Can anyone relate? Not sure if I should push through this and stick to the program or back off a bit.
Thoughts?
#2
Making a kilometer blurry
If I was not enjoying it for whatever reason, I'd just train for fun and get back to racing when I felt like it. The pros have to race when they don't feel like it. We don't.
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maybe your motivation level is on par with your stress?
sometimes, I get my best results when I really don't care how I do.
sometimes, I get my best results when I really don't care how I do.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#5
ride lots be safe
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IME, nothing takes the fun out of riding like a sense of obligation. Makes it feel like work. OTOH, you are a disciplined, experienced rider who knows how to follow a training plan and work hard, so yeah, your fitness is there regardless of your enthusiasm level.
Focus on the big hairy goal. Why is it exciting to you? That's where you'll get your motivation.
Focus on the big hairy goal. Why is it exciting to you? That's where you'll get your motivation.
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+1, sometimes I also get my best results when I feel a bit tired as I tend to play my cards better and not do stupid stuff which blows matches until it matters.
#7
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I can relate. In the old days where training weeks were 20+ hours it was easy to lose motivation.
A teammate, Olympian and Euro Pro once told me that when you lose your motivation and start to dread training OR perceive riding as your 'job' it's time to look deep inside and re-introduce yourself to why you are doing it. He also stressed the importance of taking some of the pressure off yourself (as velo and monk said) - if you take the pressure off and allow your body to perform you will achieve your results. With Track Nats 5 weeks away and decreasing motivation maybe you should take a few days off, sit back and enjoy yourself a little.
A teammate, Olympian and Euro Pro once told me that when you lose your motivation and start to dread training OR perceive riding as your 'job' it's time to look deep inside and re-introduce yourself to why you are doing it. He also stressed the importance of taking some of the pressure off yourself (as velo and monk said) - if you take the pressure off and allow your body to perform you will achieve your results. With Track Nats 5 weeks away and decreasing motivation maybe you should take a few days off, sit back and enjoy yourself a little.
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I had a slightly similar experience a week ago. I went out for the Tuesday night race series, and once on the course, I just felt tired and lazy. I ended up just sitting in for most of the first race because I really didn't feel like working, then made sure to attach on to the right wheels at the end. I got my best result there this season. I mean, it could have been better, but I was still happy.
That result had me a bit more motivated in the second race, where I got not only my best result of the season, but the best result ever in that race series.
That result had me a bit more motivated in the second race, where I got not only my best result of the season, but the best result ever in that race series.
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You lack motivation because cycling is a stupid sport with no upside that takes way too much time out of your life to be mediocre at.
#10
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#11
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Thanks, guys.
^^^ THIS is exactly how I feel with similar results.
Last night I did a Chariot race feeling the same way. I couldn't believe when I looked at my file later that I posted an average speed 2.5kph faster than than I did at Masters Team Sprint last year as the first man. The Nationals performance was during a peak with the added intensity of the biggest event of the season (by the way, we got 4th in the fastest group, 30+). Last night I was faster without a peak and having my legs loaded up after a tough-ish block.
I'll probably take waterrockets' advice of not racing for a while. Maybe I'll take 2-3 days off in a row, too.
I had a slightly similar experience a week ago. I went out for the Tuesday night race series, and once on the course, I just felt tired and lazy. I ended up just sitting in for most of the first race because I really didn't feel like working, then made sure to attach on to the right wheels at the end. I got my best result there this season. I mean, it could have been better, but I was still happy.
That result had me a bit more motivated in the second race, where I got not only my best result of the season, but the best result ever in that race series.
That result had me a bit more motivated in the second race, where I got not only my best result of the season, but the best result ever in that race series.
Last night I did a Chariot race feeling the same way. I couldn't believe when I looked at my file later that I posted an average speed 2.5kph faster than than I did at Masters Team Sprint last year as the first man. The Nationals performance was during a peak with the added intensity of the biggest event of the season (by the way, we got 4th in the fastest group, 30+). Last night I was faster without a peak and having my legs loaded up after a tough-ish block.
I'll probably take waterrockets' advice of not racing for a while. Maybe I'll take 2-3 days off in a row, too.
#13
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Last year I went out with a woman who mentioned to her sister that I trained a lot and that I raced bikes.
[Sister] "That's interesting. Does it pay well?"
[Me] "I'm lucky to win some beer money here and there."
[Sister] "So you spend all of these hours training and you actually pay...not get paid...to race?"
[Me] "Yup."
[Sister] "Well that's dumb."
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So true.
Last year I went out with a woman who mentioned to her sister that I trained a lot and that I raced bikes.
[Sister] "That's interesting. Does it pay well?"
[Me] "I'm lucky to win some beer money here and there."
[Sister] "So you spend all of these hours training and you actually pay...not get paid...to race?"
[Me] "Yup."
[Sister] "Well that's dumb."
Last year I went out with a woman who mentioned to her sister that I trained a lot and that I raced bikes.
[Sister] "That's interesting. Does it pay well?"
[Me] "I'm lucky to win some beer money here and there."
[Sister] "So you spend all of these hours training and you actually pay...not get paid...to race?"
[Me] "Yup."
[Sister] "Well that's dumb."
#15
My idea of fun
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I've got too much drama in my personal life to pin a number to my jersey right now. I'm riding enough for fun to keep my fitness up, and doing some cross training to shake things up a bit.
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So true.
Last year I went out with a woman who mentioned to her sister that I trained a lot and that I raced bikes.
[Sister] "That's interesting. Does it pay well?"
[Me] "I'm lucky to win some beer money here and there."
[Sister] "So you spend all of these hours training and you actually pay...not get paid...to race?"
[Me] "Yup."
[Sister] "Well that's dumb."
Last year I went out with a woman who mentioned to her sister that I trained a lot and that I raced bikes.
[Sister] "That's interesting. Does it pay well?"
[Me] "I'm lucky to win some beer money here and there."
[Sister] "So you spend all of these hours training and you actually pay...not get paid...to race?"
[Me] "Yup."
[Sister] "Well that's dumb."
#17
Senior Member
I've been riding pretty fast lately. I've scored some PRs and near PRs in timed events on the track.
Lately, though, my motivation to race just hasn't been there. No "fire in the belly". I don't think I'm overtraining (or even overreaching) as my volume hasn't been very high. But, the intensity has been high.
For example, yesterday I felt like it was gonna be a crap day for me to race. So bad that I didn't even want to do a Flying 200M time trial because I didn't want a piss-poor time on the results website. I scratched my start. Then a teammate told me to "Race your bike." and I did. Recorded a best time for me at my home track and 0.1" off of my personal best. What the heck? I didn't even feel like I was giving 100%
I've had pros tell me about how they sometimes have the best results when they are racing tired. Could this be that? Can anyone relate? Not sure if I should push through this and stick to the program or back off a bit.
Thoughts?
Lately, though, my motivation to race just hasn't been there. No "fire in the belly". I don't think I'm overtraining (or even overreaching) as my volume hasn't been very high. But, the intensity has been high.
For example, yesterday I felt like it was gonna be a crap day for me to race. So bad that I didn't even want to do a Flying 200M time trial because I didn't want a piss-poor time on the results website. I scratched my start. Then a teammate told me to "Race your bike." and I did. Recorded a best time for me at my home track and 0.1" off of my personal best. What the heck? I didn't even feel like I was giving 100%
I've had pros tell me about how they sometimes have the best results when they are racing tired. Could this be that? Can anyone relate? Not sure if I should push through this and stick to the program or back off a bit.
Thoughts?
I have a feeling you're in real good shape relatively speaking and your body is just tapped out dealing with that. I'd back off a bit, enjoy the magical dreamy fast rides and look forward to Nationals. When you get there listen to hyper music, drink Coke or coffee, and take in the ambiance. Enjoy.
#20
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
---
If I understand the OP correctly he is not lacking in motivation to race bikes but just feeling like his body is in a trough in terms of fitness or periodicity.
When I was younger and in much better shape I have had similiar experiences, that I feel like I am in a trough and some how pull off one of the best rides in my life. In fact I remember winning a TT and hence a yellow jersey in a stage race feeling that way. I'd swear they made an error in my time.
But now being older it's almost the exact opposite. If I feel like I am in a trough then I definitely am in one. If I feel a peek coming on then it's coming on. I try real hard to get it just right for race days.
#22
Wheelsuck
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#23
Wheelsuck
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#24
Senior Member
In other words it's mentally taxing but physically working so great it's almost effortless. When I'm at my best I'm also a bit tired, mentally not asmsharp/alert/acute, and I have to think about making efforts, but when I make those efforts my legs always come through. I can keep asking for efforts, hour after hour, week after week.
#25
out walking the earth