Polar vortex depression and unintentional rest day
*Warning: Depressing content alert. Please skip to the next blog if you want to.*
This blog is not about a race or any of my workout, ultramarathon, or triathlon accomplishment. It's more about my current mental health and (no) workout motivation. Since getting back from Thailand, I've been sluggish and had no motivation to do anything. It might be because of the weather (?). The sudden change in the temperature from 90F to 20F hit me pretty hard. I had to catch up on a lot of things that I intentionally put off while I was on the vacation and constantly feel like I'm trying NOT to drown.
Luckily, I still have my Saturday group runs to motivate me to get out. Two weekends ago we had a snowmageddon in NE Ohio, which trapped us in the house for 3 days. This week (yesterday and today) we have Polar Vortex, which makes the temperature drop really low (-31F with wind chill) and schools had to cancel classes (including my university). I should take it as an opportunity to work on other stuff because I don't have to teach but I have a hard time staying focused. My mind keeps wandering and I can only do low-level thinking work (definitely not research).
Besides no work motivation, I also have NO workout motivation. I usually have no problem getting up and getting exercise done in the morning (either a run, bike, swim, or yoga) but the past couple of days have been extremely hard to even get up in the morning. I consistently feel tired, sleepy, and unable to focus (like I am always in a dream). Is this winter depression?
Anyway, just needed a place to vent and nowhere is better than my own blog. A lot of things happened after I came back to the US but I have been busy with work and training (and feeling down) that I had no time to write the blog.
Big running news: I got into Vermont 100!!!! So, the training will start soon (I guess?). I am also working with a coach this time because I need more direction and quality training. I am excited for this race as everyone who had run it said it's fun and challenging. My biggest challenge is to balance between training, job, and family.
I hope the weather will warm up soon as I am itching to run outside.
Sydney
This blog is not about a race or any of my workout, ultramarathon, or triathlon accomplishment. It's more about my current mental health and (no) workout motivation. Since getting back from Thailand, I've been sluggish and had no motivation to do anything. It might be because of the weather (?). The sudden change in the temperature from 90F to 20F hit me pretty hard. I had to catch up on a lot of things that I intentionally put off while I was on the vacation and constantly feel like I'm trying NOT to drown.
Luckily, I still have my Saturday group runs to motivate me to get out. Two weekends ago we had a snowmageddon in NE Ohio, which trapped us in the house for 3 days. This week (yesterday and today) we have Polar Vortex, which makes the temperature drop really low (-31F with wind chill) and schools had to cancel classes (including my university). I should take it as an opportunity to work on other stuff because I don't have to teach but I have a hard time staying focused. My mind keeps wandering and I can only do low-level thinking work (definitely not research).
Besides no work motivation, I also have NO workout motivation. I usually have no problem getting up and getting exercise done in the morning (either a run, bike, swim, or yoga) but the past couple of days have been extremely hard to even get up in the morning. I consistently feel tired, sleepy, and unable to focus (like I am always in a dream). Is this winter depression?
Anyway, just needed a place to vent and nowhere is better than my own blog. A lot of things happened after I came back to the US but I have been busy with work and training (and feeling down) that I had no time to write the blog.
Big running news: I got into Vermont 100!!!! So, the training will start soon (I guess?). I am also working with a coach this time because I need more direction and quality training. I am excited for this race as everyone who had run it said it's fun and challenging. My biggest challenge is to balance between training, job, and family.
I hope the weather will warm up soon as I am itching to run outside.
Sydney
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