In Sydney Australia. We are in lock down. Its cold and wet. Motivation to train = Zero. I have been avoiding my Sat workout. Until I came across this twit from Ray Dalio “Got to the Pain rather than avoid it”. Off to train now…
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Interesting - for me it’s the exact opposite. I’ve always disliked the pain/suffering narrative and that quote is really, really uninspiring.
Glad it works for you as we all have to find our individual motivators!
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Good one @Fkidenya !
Something that helps me personally is disconnecting riding from motivation. I’ll get on the bike whether I feel like it or not. I try to follow what the guys in the podcast say: “Commit to doing the first interval”.
I tell myself that after the first interval I can quit if I still am not motivated. That hasn’t happened yet. And you can be sure I am highly unmotivated when my alarm sounds at 5:00 and I have a 3h ride planned!
Motivation truly is not your ally in training, unless we are talking about long-term, intrinsic motivation. Find the reason “why” you want to train, what your ultimate goal is in the first place, and stick with it. Lean on that rather than on motivation.
I believe it is important to accept that external motivation and short-term “I’m walking on sunshine” motivation will always peter out innevitably. They will never carry you far enough in a sport that thrives on consistency, and layering fitness year after year…
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Totally agree. Some days its just about getting started. Small goals - do the first interval. If you can do the first then you can do the second…and so on. Sometimes, when life gets complicated, the “why” is not enough.
Last few weeks I have hit several PB’s and nailing workouts. Motivation is high when you are winning. Getting on the bike is easy. You are looking forward to the next workout.
Then you fail a workout…ouch!!.. and start questioning “ËVERYTHING”. Is it fuelling? fatigue? sleep? Is my power meter broken? Maybe its the small ring vs the big ring. Maybe I need a rest week etc…
But today I realised it was my fear of failing another workout that was holding me back - causing me to procrastinate…until I saw the quote. Today, I needed something to put me in the mindset so i can take the first step…
Anyway, I nailed my workout today.
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I often look forward to getting on the trainer with a movie or new tv show to binge watch.
My motivation is wanting to stay consistent and not get slow. 
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Observing my endocrine system cater I need an event/goal on the horizon to really train. I can still ride most days without any goals but, it’s not training…tough getting older. Nothing makes sense.
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Well done… That’s a tough workout 
Keep the momentum going…
Amen
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I need time away from the bike in winter. I like to take a month or so away from the bike and focus on weight lifting, not thinking about the bike at all. I take January and maybe part of February away from the bike By the end of February or the start of March I’m itching to get back on the bike and start training again.
I’m not racing, I’m more of a summer-Century rider, so it’s not like I have to perform for some team at the start of a season. I’d rather mentally re-charge in the crap months and be ready to go in the spring than slog through winter on the bike then end up hating it.
Anyway, good luck!
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Couldn’t agree more. Motivation is a feeling that can vary from one day to the next. Having the “discipline” to get the training done on a day to day consistent basis will always lead to better results over the long haul.
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There is something to be said for that too @d_diston
For me though, there is no denying that there is a deal of pain/suffering involved with training. If I am not suffering at the end of a VO2max workout, it wasn’t a VO2max workout!
The key for me is:
- Embrace that feeling: I know how it is going to feel, and I know I have done it before. There is no denying it will be highly uncomfortable, but accepting that and bracing for it helps. It’s all about convincing your mind you are not actually in any physical danger…
- Change my perception: I try to reframe “pain” (as in “I’m about to die”) to “work” (as in “This sucks, but I chose for this and I’ve got this”)
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One thing that really helps me which has nothing to do with motivation, have intention with each workout you do. What is your intention for the work out coming up? Of course you want to be faster and stronger but why? that can only be answered by yourself.
Sure motivation does help some days, but if I have a clear definition of intention why I am doing this, it makes the work out much easier to complete and stick too.
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