After starting running did you lose any other vital energies?

Yeah. I used to write fiction, about three hours a day. Was working on getting a few short stories published. After I started training seriously, I lost all motivation to write. I don't think about it much these days. When I take a week off running, I usually stay writing again. Makes me wonder if it's worth it.

For me - longer runs, and longer sprints definitely wear me out.

The most productive session is usually getting good sleep and then doing some short and heavy hill sprint reps. Like 10 x 12 secs all out.

That's a good way to start the day, then I have a good energy all day.

Summer running does this too me. I am just drained and feeling disgusting after any run in 80-90 degree weather with 80% humidity.

Same here. Running has provided the physical benefit that I had hoped for, but the intellectual side has suffered as a consequence. As evidence I was an A student up up until high school, but my energy was always so depleted thereafter from the workouts that my grades suffered greatly. The effect on energy has been sustained since, but I'm still alive & healthy a decade longer than expected which was why I started running in the 1st place.

I am not an expert, but maybe something here will help. If training depletes you:

a) Are you getting enough sleep? When running track in HS & college, I needed at least 8 solid hours of sleep. When training heavily, 8 1/2 and sometimes 9 - 9 1/2 after hard days. Esp during HS growth spurts.

b) If you are meeting the above, maybe adding a 20-30 min nap midday could help make a difference.

c) Are you sleeping the same hours each night? My understanding is that studies show waking at the same time daily is important. Going to sleep at the same time is also important, unless you need more sleep -- in which case, go to sleep earlier.

d) Are you hydrating properly?

e) Are you eating properly? Getting a fully sufficient intake of complex carbs, protein, fruit, veggies, and some limited fats? Minimizing added sugar in your food? Avoiding candy and soda? Also avoiding other junk food like chips etc?

f) Drinking too much? Metabolized alcohol, IIRC, converts to sugar in your system and then to fat if the sugar-energy is unturned very soon. If I understand correctly, the body also processes alcohol like a poison, using the liver. Counterproductive to training.

g) Are you training too hard? Too many miles? Increased mileage and/or intensity too rapidly? Is the intensity of the hard sessions inappropriate? Are you running easy days too fast? Too many hard sessions? The easy-hard-easy-hard-easy-long-off approach doesn't work for everyone.

tl;dr- Training well is a lifestyle, and attention needs to be paid to all the details.

tipperboi wrote:

Yeah. I used to write fiction, about three hours a day. Was working on getting a few short stories published. After I started training seriously, I lost all motivation to write. I don't think about it much these days. When I take a week off running, I usually stay writing again. Makes me wonder if it's worth it.

THIS. So much. I haven't even bothered to confess this to anyone, thought I must be an outlier. Like...why would running make me less able to work on intellectual projects? I thought it would HELP if anything.

And to OP - I think "vital energies" is the perfect way to put it. I had some other term I used in my mind, but yours is basically the same thing. Thanks for bringing this up, I'm curious what others have to say.

tipperboi wrote:

Yeah. I used to write fiction, about three hours a day. Was working on getting a few short stories published. After I started training seriously, I lost all motivation to write. I don't think about it much these days. When I take a week off running, I usually stay writing again. Makes me wonder if it's worth it.

Scary. This is me to a T. Use to write fiction. Then I took up writing and now I barely write at all. Not enough energy, both mentally and physically. I do miss writing and certainly they aren't mutually exclusive for many people. Interesting to hear we're in the same boat. Feel like I'm either fat, creative and a good worker, or skinny, fit and lazy/boring :o(

slacker who skims wrote:

tipperboi wrote:

Yeah. I used to write fiction, about three hours a day. Was working on getting a few short stories published. After I started training seriously, I lost all motivation to write. I don't think about it much these days. When I take a week off running, I usually stay writing again. Makes me wonder if it's worth it.

Scary. This is me to a T. Use to write fiction. Then I took up writing and now I barely write at all. Not enough energy, both mentally and physically. I do miss writing and certainly they aren't mutually exclusive for many people. Interesting to hear we're in the same boat. Feel like I'm either fat, creative and a good worker, or skinny, fit and lazy/boring :o(

Should I say "Then I took up RUNNING..."

Distance running and a good diet with whole grains, etc. can actually help even out your energy levels. I used to be a night owl before running. I would stay up late, get up around 9 am and then crash hard in the afternoon before revving back up after dinner. Once I started running and eating right, I would get up early for a run, have good steady energy all day, but would be too tired by 10 pm to go out and hang out at a bar until 1-2 am every night.

It is also a part of getting older. Energy levels when you are in your early 20s are hot and cold. Your body is so much more efficient at processing energy that you go from 0-60 once you have a good meal digested. When you get older, energy levels are more steady throughout the day.

If you really are feeling like you are dragging, check your iron levels. Also, if you are ramping up your training into new territory as far as mileage or intensity, it will take time for you to adjust. When I first started marathon training, I would be zonked after a 20 miler. A few years later, I could knock out a 20+ mile run and not even notice the rest of the day.

Can confirm the same experience. Have barely enough energy to go through my days, let alone thinking to sit down and write. Before taking up running, I was rather effusive and loved to engage in social activities. Now I'm a hobbit and don't bother in any intellectual activities such as writing. Even writing a short post seems like such a hassle. Oddly though, any physical activity seems much easier. Agree with your post that you're either fat and creative, or skinny and lazy.

I use to run every morning but I was tired all the time. Instead I now powerlift or do a Hitt in the morning. I found this instead gave me more energy throughout the day. So now I run in the evening. However, good nutrition and sleep are still vital to constant higher energy level. Also, working out twice a day has the benefit of really revving up the metabolism. Along with the strength stuff making you faster and less injury prone.