JStrider

ok so heres the story
in highschool(graduated in 02) I ran cross country doing between 3 and 8 miles a day usually and I did great felt awesome all that

now that I've been at college it seems every time I try to start running again I just cant keep it up more then a couple weeks

the first couple weeks are great feel good making improvements then BAM all of a sudden it seems like I'm completely out of steam

I'm tired all the time and if I keep running it just gets worse and eventually I have problems waking up and start getting really grumpy...

I've probably started trying to run 6 or 7 times in the 4 years I've been at school and the same thing happens everytime

I think It might have to do with the dining hall food here... but dont know for sure...

was just wondering if anyone has any ideas on what could cause this, or experience with something similar.

thanks a bunch

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The_Jazz

Ah yes, the dreaded intial breakdown period. How I know and loathe you.

I ran track and XC in both high school and college. All throughout high school and into my sophomore year of college, I basically took the summer off from running and then pounded my way into racing shape the first month of XC. In hindsight, I probably sacrificed 15-30seconds off my finish times at the end of the season in XC by being lazy. Since college, I've had several flirtations with running, some more serious than others but one serious enough to win prize money in local races and set several PR's, even over my college times when I was in damn good shape.

So that's my pedigree, here's my advice - either find someone that's either at your level or slightly ahead and use them to push you or use a training log. You will go through the "out of steam" period regardless, but having someone there beside you will get you out there running the next day. If there's no one available, start a log book detailing how far and fast, conditions, route and thoughts. Get compulsive about keeping it. Being upset about empty days isn't a bad thing (as an aside, I had a college buddy that was admitted to the hospital for bronchitis one March and kept checking himself out AMA so that he could stumble through a 2 mile run at 8 minute pace [very slow for us] to avoid empty squares. He was completely mental, but that's what I'm talking about.)

"Breakdown" is going to happen, and there's not much you can do about it. It's the body's way of self-regulating energy levels. If you can get through it, you'll find that your runs are much more enjoyable, you don't need as much sleep and your energy levels are much higher during the day. It's really just a question of pounding through it without hurting yourself. You should look at it as a very good sign that you're about to jump up to the next level instead of a problem.

Good luck!

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Average_Joe

As someone who has been running off and on since high school, a few reasons come to mind.

1. In your post you say "everytime I start running again". This means that you have stopped for a period of time. It's possible that your body is not conditioned for you to run long distaces at the frequency and pace you have been running. I have found that, for me, running everyday after picking it back up leads to tiredness. However, if I ease into it by running every other day (or cross train) with less mileage, then I don't get quite as fatigued at the end of the day.

2. Try to run earlier in the day opposed to at night. Legs need to recover and "cool down" after bearing so much stress. If you run right before bed, your legs don't recover properly, and they might be unconsiously active during the night.

3. For me, my lifestyle in college was much different than in high school (a.k.a.: beer and other forms of alcohol). Booze has been known to weaken legs and make one more fatigued.

4. You could be on to something with campus food. I don't remember it being the most nutritious food available. Perhaps you could modify your diet to include healthier foods, especially those that promote energy and muscle recovery (fiber, fruits & veggies, nuts & seeds). This might be difficult considering a college student's budget and resources.

5. I'm assuming that you've grown a bit since high school? Perhaps your body isn't used to carting that extra weight around. Perhaps you just need to build up the running muscles that you haven't used in a while.

Start with these possibilities. If you can refute them all, then I'll come up with a new batch of reasons for you.

Leto

I may not be the oldest on this forum, but at almost 47, I can provide some time perspective. I have gone through this breakdown for various reasons (injury - ITB, PF; family life - too busy; work - too busy; school - too busy; girlfriends who don't get it) over the decades, and have come to realize that there is an overall pattern to this.

If you like running, you can't get it out of your blood. I am now running. My last breakdown was 2 yrs ago, when i couldn't find a regular time slot to run in. Now I do it every other day at lunch.

I'm sure I'll breakdown again, But I am equally sure that I will start up again after that.

Don't sweat it, and buy good shoes, use a regular time to run and when you argue with yourself making excuses to not run, get changed while you're doing it. Before you know it you will be having the arugument on the road.

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abaya

Well, my 10-year HS reunion is this fall... but I ran XC and track (distance) for most of HS and, like you, did 3-8 miles a day and was in very good shape.

I did crew in college for all four years, but since I ended up as a coxswain (I'm short), I only ran during the winter for land-training... which was just a month or so at at time. Which was bad for me (even though I was on the ergometer often, it wasn't the same as running).

Since I graduated from college 6 years ago I basically had the same problem as you, starting to run every day or every other day, and then burning out after a few weeks, or a month or two at best.

Up until this year... (I'm in grad school now), when I made a commitment to run and lift weights at least 3 days a week, and left it at that for most of the school year. I found it much easier to keep up my running habit for the entire year, simply by not putting huge pressure on myself to go at it every day. My bf and I sort of keep each other accountable, too, to this schedule... which helps a great deal.

Now, with my lighter summer courseload, I've been doing cardio almost every day, which can include running (often I mix it up with elliptical, ergometer, etc). After the last year of 3 x a week, I find going to 4 or 5 x a week much easier, and my body isn't freaking out like it used to.

So, I recommend not taking it so hard at first... just run a few days a week to get your body back into it, and slow down on eating gross cafeteria food and drinking lots at parties (if you do that). And I like Leto's advice... while you're arguing with yourself, get dressed for a run and lace up... that's the only way I can make myself get out there, somedays. I just let myself talk, but don't listen!

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JStrider

I've tried so much to find a running buddy... but I just havnt been able to do it, i'll get someone who will do it for a short time but none of them ever stick with it...

In the past I've been just running 3 miles every day... this time I've been rotating around between 3, 2, and 1 mile days usually do something like 2,1,3,1,2 then break for the weekend repeat... seemed to have lasted longer then other times at school


my drinking patterns have defenintly changed since earlier in my college life... I'm more likely to have a beer or 2 on a weekday and only have 3 or 4 at parties... not getting all trashed as often

I have put on some weight on the scale... but appearance wise I dont look heavier... think its from the weight lifting I did freshman year... *shrug* I dont really care what I weigh... long as I look good

I usually run first thing in the morning... before it gets too hot... and If I run within 3 or so hours of eating I get cramps and stuff and its no fun at all.

I've been trying to get away from the campus food more, keeping some decent snacks around the room and whatnot... but most of the food comes from the dining hall dont have much room for it and the community cooking facilities are pretty iffy...

a friend of mine had a good idea... sign up for a 5k run/race and go ahead and pay... then by not training i'd be wasting money... might do that... see if it helps with the motivation to overcome the tiredness

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Carno

Grow some willpower. Or, join the military. They'll make you run.

I've never encountered any type of fatigue that you seem to experience, but I think you can probably push past it if you just tough it out and keep running. I just force myself to run every day, no matter how much I don't want to go.

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