Dealing With Runner's Burnout

Just a couple of months ago, my neighborhood looked like this during my winter training runs.

Now, my place is slowly changing into this.

Appreciating wild flowers in one of my leisurely runs.

On my runs around my neighborhood I enjoyed taking pictures of spring flowers everywhere.

These tulips stopped me for a minute, had to savor the sight coz they don't last very long.

More tulips of different colors

These trees were barren of leaves barely a month ago. I love running this trail close to my house.

Because it is now warmer here, it was refreshing to run in the rain in this trail.

I rested my tired feet by trying this nearby high school track one lazy afternoon.

The ground in this track is much softer than asphalt or concrete, my feet, muscles and joints love it.

How does one deal with runner's burnout? After continuously running in all kinds of weather in the last 2 years and increasing my distance from 5k races to a 30k race, I succumbed to what running experts call "runner's burnout". In the last few months, while attending a marathon clinic, I had been used to running between 15k to 25k long runs on Sundays and 10k runs 2 or 3 weekdays. But after my last race, the Toronto Sporting Life 10k on May 03, I started to feel sluggish on my training runs and I gradually reduced my mileage and speed to the point that I've never run more than 6ks in any one day since then. I also felt pain on different parts of my body everytime I tried to run faster or longer. I do not know if my body was just fooling me, but the moment I increased my speed or intensity I would feel some discomfort or pain either on my feet, knees, lower back, ankle, hamstring, calves, or anywhere. What's puzzling is it doesn't come from the same spot, and it (the pain)disappears as soon as I slow down or walk. It is funny but true. As if my body has a mind of its own and just decided enough of this hard training already.

Anyway, to stop all these nonsense coming from my "lazy" body (I know it's just laziness because the pain (imaginary or not) is not caused by any injury), I decided to sign up to run my first full marathon, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 27, 2009. I also signed up to repeat the 18 week marathon clinic at the Markham Runningroom to prepare for this race. The clinic starts on May 28. That's next week, Thursday.

In the meantime, these past few days, my mind/psyche had to allow the body to not work hard and just rest. My last few runs were quite short, slow and leisurely. No more than 6ks. And just around my neighborhood, where spring flowers most notably tulips adorn the front gardens and yards. I tried the nearby high school track which I found easier on the feet and legs. I also ran on a trail close to a park in my area. So,for now, the body can take it easy and have its way. Next week will be a totally different story.