Do you do a workout if you are mentally tired with life and hard running too

In such a situation I know I need to back off. Running can take multiple roles in my life. A vehicle to motivate me to push myself to my physical limits but also a way to deal with stress. I find LT sessions tough in stressful periods and would then replace those by easy tempos or just easy running.

I think it really depends ... sometimes feeling like crap is just something to train through (see Steve Scott's training log, posted somewhere here on LRC) and sometimes it's a sign to back off. I used to monitor my resting heart rate each morning. If I felt like crap and my RHR was elevated for a few days, then I needed to back off.

workout dead wrote:

I did a session earlier today and l have had a lot of worries in my life and l am also increasing my miles and intensity too, so l have been tired. I ran ok, but l just didn't want to be there. I have a second run later of 5 miles as well. I have a race on December 12 or 13 if this year, so l have some time, but l have a lot of work between now in then to get into respectable shape because right now l am not there. Do you do workouts when you just don't want to be there, partly because of life and worries and partly because of the increase in your miles and intensity? If it helps l am 48 years old.

I start workouts in the situations you describe. If i'm really struggling, I just end it and know that I did all I could or should do. Most of the time, the workout ends up going okay. And I'm willing to adjust as seems right.

Is an ok workout a good session? I just don't feel like running the last few days, but l put myself through it. I felt mentally exhausted, like l had weights on my legs. I was doing 400s and felt so tired. I did a long run last Sunday after a hard workout Saturday and felt like l had hit the wall. I also have a lot of mental stress, so l stay up a lot at night watching tv because of problems in my life.

workout dead wrote:

hobby coach wrote:

I start workouts in the situations you describe. If i'm really struggling, I just end it and know that I did all I could or should do. Most of the time, the workout ends up going okay. And I'm willing to adjust as seems right.

Is an ok workout a good session? I just don't feel like running the last few days, but l put myself through it. I felt mentally exhausted, like l had weights on my legs. I was doing 400s and felt so tired. I did a long run last Sunday after a hard workout Saturday and felt like l had hit the wall. I also have a lot of mental stress, so l stay up a lot at night watching tv because of problems in my life.

If you're suffering stress in the rest of your life, I'd say to arrange your training so that you're happy doing it. Do some easy workouts -- run race pace, but don't dig deep. Or get off the track and onto the grass. There you can just run hard without worrying about the watch.

And don't be afraid to bag the workout and just run. Sometimes it turns out that a relaxed run is the better idea. And sometimes during such runs, my legs decide that they are ready to go and it turns back into a workout.

Running is a hobby. If you don’t enjoy it then quit.

Unless you’re life is in order it’s hard to find your running life in order too.

Time to get yourself together and stop worrying about your running hobby.

hobby coach wrote:

And don't be afraid to bag the workout and just run. Sometimes it turns out that a relaxed run is the better idea. And sometimes during such runs, my legs decide that they are ready to go and it turns back into a workout.

Seconded. I freaking love it when that situation plays out.

I think running also serves as a good coping mechanism in dealing with stressors. Just modify your approach and maybe take it a little easier than usual until you are more focused.

Be a little easier on yourself. Take a break, find a workout that seems more like play then work, do it with a friend, ease up on the intensity. Just switch it up a little or like I said give yourself a break. You are doing this for the enjoyment, when the enjoyment is not there because other things in life intefere ease up a bit. Sometimes hard interval workouts just add to your stress.

Stress is cumulative. Your body can only handle so much before it breaks. It sounds like you are bending fairly hard right now. Back off for a few days before you break. Good luck.