Mental Monday (15): When Base Training is Done

Nothing is secure but life, transition, the energizing spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Transitions are hard. This is the time of year when base training is wrapping up and build training is getting going. We start to see some of those long rides and runs replaced with tempo and speed efforts. Our volume drops down a bit and the weather gets nice.

The last week or so i have wondered why I've been in a bit of a funk. I think it's that I am struggeling with this transition. I must admit, I have come to love the hours on my bike, miles and miles of running in the state parks, 2 hour swim session. My endurance has benefited and leaving this stage of my training feels a bit foreign.

Suddenly, as our races are around the corner, we feel the mounting pressure not to get unjured, not to get overtrained. We no longer have oodles of off-season to repair from an overused IT band. Each workout that we complete has more of a purpose.

Disenchantment, whether it is a minor disappointment or a major shock, is the signal that things are moving into transition in our lives. William Bridges

As a way to assess this recent transition funk I plan to sit down and really look at what is holding me back. Why is this not a smooth transition? What am I stuck on?

Transition is the natural process of disorientation and reorientation that marks the turning points in the path of growth...transitions are key times in the natural process of self-renewal William Bridges

Is anyone else feeling this? Has anyone else gone through this and come out the other side? I'm trying to use patience as a tactic, and I assume it will all come around. Any tips would be great.