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Uh Oh........early signs of burn out

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Uh Oh........early signs of burn out

Old 05-28-13, 06:23 AM
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Uh Oh........early signs of burn out

For some of you that live in areas where it's not convenient to ride year round are just now really itching and excited about being able to ride on a more consistent basis. It's probably hard to believe someone feels like they have ridden enough already this year!

The past couple of years I backed off the amount and intensity of riding I had been doing. Some of it was due to some physical issues that set me back and I just didn't feel like making the effort to get back to top form. However late last year I found a renewed spark and for 6 months have hit the riding pretty hard. I was able to lose 20 pounds and get well below the weight I was when I was riding my best. I've done lots of training rides and a number of centuries over that period. I've been excited to get back out riding with my small riding group on Tuesday and Thursday nights and suffer with intense efforts. Along the way came some new toys......a new bike and new wheels. All of that added to the motivation.

However Saturday I started seeing signs that it was time to back off a little. I made a stupid mistake and did an impromptu long ride (120 miles) just 5 days after doing a 100 miler that had almost 11,000 ft of climbing. My body had not fully recovered and I tried to push the pace too much to stay with a strong group. It became more of chore........and I found I wasn't enjoying it.

This isn't new to me, just seems to be coming earlier this year. I've learned and just have to keep reminding myself to take some breaks. I've done this before and found it's okay to devote a little more time to other interests for a while. Maybe I'll start backing off in July**********?? There is already too much planned for June!!!
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Old 05-28-13, 06:54 AM
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I love pie, blueberry, apple, rhubarb, cherry, raisin, key lime, etc. Yet every now and then, I don’t even want to look at or think about pie. This usually happens after I’ve had too much good pie for a pretty good length of time. I find that when I give up pie for a few weeks, I start to enjoy it again, and tend to enjoy it more if I resume in moderation. Sounds like the moderation part may have been an issue for you. Oh, yeah, and remember plans can be changed.
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Old 05-28-13, 07:53 AM
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I try to keep mixing it up a little so there's no pattern and I don't push myself too much (a fine line, I agree). On Sat. I rode 104 miles with 10,400 feet of climbing, so on Sun. I rode with my wife and her friends, i.e. total recovery ride for me.

Only 44 miles with a bit over 1,500 feet of climbing.

With that ride in between, I was able to do a very comfortable 43 miles with 5,200 ft. of climbing on Monday (Memorial Day) and felt really good doing it.

You are quite right though, too much, too soon with too litttle recovery will lead to burn-out!

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Old 05-28-13, 09:10 AM
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You ride at a level that few of us can even dream of, but you're still pushing 60,eh? I predict that a little more rest, some shorter rides, and a change of scenery will perk you back up. Be sure you are well rested when you get to CO.
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Old 05-28-13, 09:23 AM
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I'm the kind of person who needs a training plan to help me from slacking off too much. Sounds like you might benefit from one to keep you from doing too much!
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Old 05-28-13, 10:50 AM
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Yes, you have been hitting it pretty hard.
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Old 05-28-13, 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by NOS88
I love pie, blueberry, apple, rhubarb, cherry, raisin, key lime, etc. Yet every now and then, I don’t even want to look at or think about pie. This usually happens after I’ve had too much good pie for a pretty good length of time. I find that when I give up pie for a few weeks, I start to enjoy it again, and tend to enjoy it more if I resume in moderation. Sounds like the moderation part may have been an issue for you. Oh, yeah, and remember plans can be changed.
I love the analogy! Come to think about it I owe myself a cherry pie. My wife brought home a homemade Chocolate meringue pie last week that tasted almost as good as Mom's. I had not allowed myself stuff like that for a few months trying to get the weight down. It's now time reintroduce some stuff I've always enjoyed!!
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Old 05-28-13, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by jppe
I love the analogy! Come to think about it I owe myself a cherry pie. My wife brought home a homemade Chocolate meringue pie last week that tasted almost as good as Mom's. I had not allowed myself stuff like that for a few months trying to get the weight down. It's now time reintroduce some stuff I've always enjoyed!!
...and to go on a short 'smell-the-roses' ride - maybe to the pie store/restaurant!
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Old 05-28-13, 12:10 PM
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I don't know how many days a week you ride, but I have been seeing some really long rides that you have been posting. You may want to try riding shorter rides on more days. I'm almost 67 and I generally ride 30 to 40 miles a day and do longer rides on the weekends. I save my really long rides for the charity events and try to do about 8 to 10 of those a year. Also trying doing more solo rides where you aren't being pushed to perform as well or better than the other riders in the group. This has worked for me and has kept me from getting burned out on riding. Maybe if it starts to become more about the ride rather than the competition, you may not feel as if you are getting burned out. This is just my opinion, for what it's worth.
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Old 05-28-13, 01:05 PM
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Back to back centuries are a LOT easier in your 20s or even 30s. Give your old self some recovery time even if you are used to that regimen and you'll probably be faster than you will trying to do what you used to do.

I was trying to do 100 miles per week upon coming back after years off and had to set my old self straight about that right away.
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Old 05-28-13, 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Cougrrcj
...and to go on a short 'smell-the-roses' ride - maybe to the pie store/restaurant!
This works for me. I live in a pretty scenic part of the world, and far too often I'm wrapped up in the ride, and don't appreciate what's around me. So, when I feel like I'm questioning why I ride, I take a tour. Get off the bike and take pictures with the cell. Pull up next to people plodding along on cruisers and have a talk for a few minutes, before going on my way. Ride by a beach and check out the eye candy.

Oh, and if necessary, leave the Garmin at home for a ride every now and then.
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Old 05-28-13, 02:04 PM
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Why don't you golf more? A lot more.

Or get yourself a CX bike and take it offroad, or something? Mix things up a bit, or maybe just do nothing for a couple weeks.
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Old 05-28-13, 02:35 PM
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time to do some cross training. North Carolina has some nice mountains. Get some good trail shoes and hike up some of those mountains. You'll get both the aerobics and leg strength but off the saddle.
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Old 05-28-13, 03:37 PM
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It's the same with sex. Some times you just have to go for a bike ride instead.
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Old 05-28-13, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by t4mv
Why don't you golf more? A lot more.
The calendar looks clear tomorrow so I think I'll just do that. I've found I tend to ramp up the golf in the hotter weather and ride less so it's about time to crank it up a notch.
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Old 05-29-13, 04:52 AM
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The thing that keeps me going when it starts to seem more like work than fun, is to have some goal events coming up. That's why I really get burned out in mid summer when I really don't have a lot planned. Right now I'm still pretty jazzed about getting into the longer rides because spring has been so late in coming. Just being able to get on the bike at 7:00 am without having to think about arm warmers makes me want to ride.

Not so much in mid-August... This year I'll be doing a week-long ride in Idaho in August so hopefully I'll be able to use that as motivation to keep me going.
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Old 05-29-13, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by JimF22003
The thing that keeps me going when it starts to seem more like work than fun, is to have some goal events coming up. That's why I really get burned out in mid summer when I really don't have a lot planned. Right now I'm still pretty jazzed about getting into the longer rides because spring has been so late in coming. Just being able to get on the bike at 7:00 am without having to think about arm warmers makes me want to ride.

Not so much in mid-August... This year I'll be doing a week-long ride in Idaho in August so hopefully I'll be able to use that as motivation to keep me going.
Oh you'll like Idaho. Scenic as is VA and you bring up a good point about what kind of riding we focus on. Even back when younger I burnt out quickly at riding to compete because sufferfests just weren't fun anymore. I just went back to riding to give me something healthy to do outside when I started working inside.

Have a ball on your Tour of Idaho.
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Old 05-30-13, 03:52 AM
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Thanks Zinger. Idaho is where I grew up, but I haven't ridden at all in the northern part. I'm doing Ride Idaho (my third time.)
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