Need advice on prolonged slump...

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Sounds like pretty regular overtraining syndrome?

If you are too deeply fatigued for too long, your body stops responding appropriately - the recovery processes doesn't work well. (i don't think the exact mechanisms are understood yet). Continuing trying to train hard just worsens the fatigue.

I had this for about 6months after simply pushing too hard too often. Took about 3months really easy to recover and then start training up again.

By really easy i mean that i jogged at a pace that felt like 'no effort' and kept to a short enough duration that again, there was no feeling of any effort to keep going. This meant about 20min jogs at 8min pace for the first month!

Seriously, i don't think there is any way out it that doesn't involve a break from 'proper training'.

Best wishes

It does seem like over training syndrome with possible depressive complications. Of course this is message board advice so try going back to the md.

Thanks, and I don't disagree.

There's a few other things I should add.

I've not really done anything hard for months. Have done a handful of sessions in the past 12 months. Raced maybe 3-4 times.

My body takes days to recover of what would have taken me a couple of hours. Now at the stage where I get 'chicked' regularly going around the park.

I'm hoping for one of those 'House' type diagnostic responses where you discover I've had some rare mongolian fever or the like...

No, I'm not pregnant.

Hey man give this a try. Im assuming your foreign since you said "knackered" but I'm sure they have it over in your parts of the world.

Go to your local pharmacy, get a bottle of liquid iron. Also get a box of "Emergen-C!". Its vitimin C in powder form. Mix a few teaspoons along with a packet and consume. Do this every day for three weeks, then stop for a week. Repeat.

Sounds like your body could be low on red blood cells.

Then again could be wrong. Could be lyme disease.

32/33 is a rough time for runners, prs stop and such. You didnt mention any goals, just times, think about why you are running and if it's worth 120 miles a week. Maybe something is emotionally wrong with you as well, oversleeping is usually a sign of depression. Just like if you take larger and larger doses of drugs over time your body builds tolerance maybe your body has built a tolerance for 120 and you are merely maintaining the habit by continuing. I cant believe you wouldnt just stop running that much and see a doctor after a couple months.

One question; do you get up from sitting down after a while and get a blindness along with feeling really dizzy for a few seconds? If so that usually indicated a low red blood cell count.

If you do the above it can only help you, and you will piss out the excess iron and vitiminC

Could it be inadequate protein intake? I had similar symptoms and trained like crap for well over a year before I figured out that I wasn't consuming enough protein. After adding some by eating more whole grain foods (esp. cereal), peanut butter, cottage cheese and yogurt, etc, I felt much better--not only recovering quicker but had better endurance and didn't feel sore/broken down all the time.

I'm off to get some liquid Iron and vit C today.

I should have clarified - I am only jogging a few times a week now. Merely stating that miles and lots of them were more normal than not for me.

I mentioned the sore soles of my feet, because my understanding is that runners damage red blood cells with the pounding. And this soreness is definitely consistent.

As for dizziness. I can recall times when this has happened recently, but its not likes its regular.

Running goals... I still think I have my best marathon in me and would like to have a shot at next year's OG. That aside, there is more to life...

Did the Dr test for Red Blood Cell Count? What is your Ferritin Count?

I'm certain your aneamic!

Had it done a while back, Fe was at the low end but still within normal ranges. Since it's only a snapshot, I should probably get them done again.

Not entirely convinced that it is aneamia.

Its times like this that I wish I just had a stress fracture and could deal with it with defined rest.

hi phill, i asume you are taking daily multi vits and vit c with zinc, we have chatted about it a fair few times before

i know hugh jones suffered overtraining syndrome, maybe chat to him, and i know alan storey knows alot about it too

call me a cynic but i think its a case of 'women weaken legs'

I agree with the mac. If you are reading this post tonight then you are not resting properly!. Last Summer I was SURE I had something physically wrong with me. Sleeping all day, all night, girlfriend going crazy I was acting like a 90year old. I had full range of tests carried out, went back a week later and was told I was healthy as a randy bull. Doctor asked afew questions, burst into tears, walked off and started running the next day. All I needed was a hug and a release of emotional stress. Yes, I took iron supplements (history of colitis), drank more water and slept more balanced... you are what you eat. Sleep in King! Then is speed.....as for 'women weaken legs', behind all good men is a better women! nice one mcdoc. we are not 20 anymore :-(

Depression? Staleness?

Try cutting caffeine out... that made a big difference to how well I felt.

You may as well try the iron thing but make sure you don't take it near meals, milk, caffeine, etc else it may not absorb properly.

You were an awesom runner, and now you're not. That is maybe the problem. It will take you huge motivation to get back to what you were, and you obviously know this.

Are you getting the same feelings that you used to get when you were running all those miles? No you're not. When you are in awesome shape, you feel awesome right?

It will be a long road back to that kind of fitness. Are you prepared to face that challenge?

track chick wrote:

Depression? Staleness?

Try cutting caffeine out... that made a big difference to how well I felt.

You may as well try the iron thing but make sure you don't take it near meals, milk, caffeine, etc else it may not absorb properly.

This guy will run 2.14 before he gives up his caffeine!@£!

YOU HAVE SESQUEPEDELIANITUS!!!!!

I've had it several times in my running career so I know how to get over it quickly. I read your symptoms and saw myself going through the exact same thing.

Here is what you gotta do:

(1) Change your workouts drastically. Find a grassy stretch somewhere and sprint the thing as hard as your legs can go. A quarter mile to half mile is best, but it has to be an all out effort all the way. Do that repeat 3-4 times without walking; jog back to the start to recover but never let yourself walk. Push it! Compete against your shadow. Race the entire distance as if you are a sprinter.

(2) Change your running shoes and clothing. Put on a new look altogether. Bright colors if you are a brown-grey sort of person. It has to be radical, this change.

(3) Rethink your purpose. If you are 32/33 and can still run a 2:15 Marathon, you are truely an inspiration to many other Americans. Do you know how many times people see you running and think 'I should be out there too.'? What is there about your life that is greater than that you have such a big positive influence on all the people around you? You run a 2:16 and runners everywhere know they too can run 2:16 just because you are doing it. Discover a new purpose for your running life. The faster you run, the more people you influence. Crazy but it is true that as you run faster more people notice you and more people are inspired to follow in your footsteps.

I hope this helps you rebuild your running. Running will loose a great ambassador if you drop out. If I can help you e-mail Gerry Lindgren at GerrytheJogger at AOL.com

Thanks all for your words. There are a few people I know on here, and you know i know you.

What I am going to do is up my iron intake and multi-v and get more sleep. I think there was a lot of stress in the past, but now seems to be well under control. I have suffered periodically from depression... hard to know the cause. When I'm happy I'm often running well. When I'm depressed I can run well for a while where I either decline in energy or the depression subsides and running stays its course. Each time is different, and I get better at getting through it.

Will get in touch with Alan Storey and see what advice he can offer.

Caffeine. X man knows I love my coffee. I only have 1-2 double espresso a day. It isn't that much of problem.

'wellnow', When it comes to the running I have never been afraid to work hard. The more I do, the more I want to do. What I have not been able to achieve is momentum in getting on top of training. The miles/long runs have never been something I would shy from. Am I prepared to face that challenge? If health is there, absolutely.

Gerry, you leave me confused. Do we have the same definitions of: "SESQUEPEDELIANITUS" using sesquipedalian as the route:

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/1999/10/25.html

Are you saying to go out and thrash myself, become a born again runner. Kind of like boot camp. I might just email you directly... (BTW, I'm Aus living in Richmond,London)

Thanks again

So you're not going to retire then Phill? Good for you. There's no getting away from it, whether someone is a fast or slow runner, doing 20 miles/week or 140, we are all addicted to excercise in one way or another. I think excercise addiction is completely normal and natural.

Our bodies are designed to do a huge amount of physical work and most peoples' 9-5 jobs leave them feeling very unfulfilled and frustrated. If I can't run, my life is shit, when I'm running well it feels fantastic. I'm sure you feel the same. Does the British weather get you down too? what's the weather like there in Richmond?