Been training all year for outdoor track, and now that's it here I have no motivation

Staying motivated isn't easy. It's possible that you're overtraining and are physically and emotionally spent. It's also possible that you let your expectations get too far in front of your ability to meet them. When that happens there seems like there's no upside to competing - too much negative feedback kills motivation whether it's internal or external.

Depending on how much your team needs you, it might be a good idea to re-evaluate and reset your goals for next year and go back to base work. When you're no longer enjoying what you do you are nearly done with your track career.

Training consistently for a long period of time can lead to this lack of motivation.

Why don't you play frisbee with your friends or ride your bike? Granted, you need to be careful and not do too much, but I think doing something fun, along with running track, can be very beneficial. Just have a little bit of fun.

And go for a run somewhere nice/exciting. Drive somewhere on a Saturday and get a nice, scenic run in. This may help you remember why you enjoy running.

You've used up your adaptation reserves, sounds like. When a person who's normally well-motivated develops an "I don't care" attitude, it's almost always a sign of depletion.

The biggest thing for you is to get some recovery. Try to add an extra hour per night, consistently, to your sleep time.

The same thing is happening to me.

My legs feel weighed down with lead or something. According to "Lore of Running" I have the symptoms of the "superplods". Changing sleeping pattern, sluggishness, no motivation.... SHIT!!

By the time I rest and then recover my fitness I will have missed the track season.

I despise running right now.

Guys, here's a suggestion; First of all, take a bit of a break-2-3 days. Then come back and run fast- if you are a 5k guy run 3-4x600 at max speed with max rest. If you're a 1500 guy run 4x400m full speed with max rest. Sometimes it just feels good to run fast, and maybe will recharge the batteries.

I think it is a recipe for disaster to start planning for next year. It could hapen all over again.

good luck

Whats wrong with you, you ask.

First and foremostly, you've trained to too long without a goal race. You shouldn't really train longer than 16 weeks without a relatively high focus race, or series of races.

You're now bored, which is fare enough. Take a few days off, even a week if thats what you need, then go out and smash yourself in a race or two. Hopefully you are going ok and will do a time you're happy with, then the motivation should come back.

Training for a marathon, I give myself an 8 week half schedule,race hard, then follow this with a 16 week marathon build up.

another canuck wrote:

Guys, here's a suggestion; First of all, take a bit of a break-2-3 days. Then come back and run fast- if you are a 5k guy run 3-4x600 at max speed with max rest. If you're a 1500 guy run 4x400m full speed with max rest. Sometimes it just feels good to run fast, and maybe will recharge the batteries.

I think it is a recipe for disaster to start planning for next year. It could hapen all over again.

good luck

How long would a max rest be for these?

5-8 min. Depends on how you feel. A 400/800 guy might need 15 min, but generally I find 7-8 min is full recovery when we do race pace stuff like 2 or 3 600s @800 speed.