Endurance athletes often thrive on structure, pushing boundaries, and chasing big goals. But what happens when life gets out of balance, or an injury or illness derails your training? It’s easy to get caught up in a mindset where you feel you need to push through—longer races, faster paces—but when this leads to physical or emotional burnout, it might be time to reassess.
Recognizing When Training is Taking Over
We’ve all been there: balancing life’s demands—work, family, relationships—while trying to hit high-mileage weeks or train for a major event. But when you start to feel that training is consuming more of your life than it’s giving back, it’s crucial to take a step back and evaluate where you are.
Start by journaling. Write about how you’re feeling emotionally and physically. Are you constantly stressed? Does the thought of your next workout feel more like a burden than an opportunity for joy? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your training load? Sometimes just acknowledging these emotions can be the first step to regaining balance.
Processing and Adjusting to Changes
When life, injury, or illness forces you to scale back, it’s okay to grieve. It’s hard to let go of goals that you’ve been working toward for months or even years. But by allowing yourself to sit with those feelings—without judgment—you can begin to move through them. Healing emotionally from a shift in goals is just as important as physical recovery.
Once you’ve worked through the initial grief, you can start thinking about what would truly bring more balance to your life and training. It’s okay to scale back, and in fact, it can be essential for long-term health and success.
Setting New Goals: Less Can Be More
Choosing a shorter distance or a less aggressive goal can be a game changer for both your physical and emotional well-being. Sometimes, we are so focused on the allure of “bigger” races and goals that we forget that smaller challenges can be equally rewarding—and perhaps even more fulfilling. A lighter training load can free up more time for other important aspects of life, reduce stress, and help you find joy in the process once again.
Take stock of your current fitness, injury status, and life circumstances. If long runs or speed work are out of the question, what can you realistically manage? Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do. Maybe it’s shorter runs, slower paces, or a different cross-training routine. Every step forward, no matter how small, keeps you moving in the right direction.
Balancing Training with Life
It’s important to avoid the trap of constantly raising the bar. Yes, it’s tempting to keep picking longer and harder races, but if your training is bringing more stress than joy, it’s time to step back. It’s okay to say, “This is enough for now.” Prioritize finding joy in your training. The key is finding that sweet spot where training enhances your life instead of becoming a source of stress.
Once your life starts to feel more balanced, you can gradually increase your training load and perhaps consider setting a longer-term goal again. But for now, embrace the smaller goals—they might bring you more joy and satisfaction than you expect.
Embracing Change with Acceptance
Remember that taking a step back or setting less aggressive goals doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re prioritizing your well-being. Grieving over a change in your athletic goals is normal, but allowing yourself to find joy in a new distance or a different event can give you something to look forward to.
By shifting your focus from “what could have been” to “what I can do now,” you give yourself the space to recover, physically and emotionally. It’s not about doing the biggest or longest event—it’s about finding balance and joy in the journey.
Moving Forward with Joy
Ultimately, the most important goal should be to enjoy your journey. Don’t be afraid to take a step back if life or your body demands it. Know that your athletic achievements don’t define your worth. Whether you’re conquering a new distance or taking a rest day, your value lies in the care you give to yourself, your health, and your happiness.
So, choose joy. Smaller goals can often bring unexpected fulfillment and balance. And who knows? You might fall in love with a new distance or even discover an entirely new aspect of your endurance journey.
Remember: It’s okay to adjust your goals. It’s okay to grieve. But it’s also okay to find happiness in whatever comes next.
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