Hey

Ever had one of those weekends where your usual favourite activities feel like a chore?

Well, that's exactly what happened to me recently, and I wanted to share this eye-opening experience with you.

Picture this: It's Saturday morning, and I'm gearing up for my regular weekend ride with my friend Jamie.

Normally, I'd be buzzing with excitement, ready to hit the road. But this time? I felt drained, my enthusiasm nowhere to be found.

My legs felt like lead weights, probably thanks to a week of intense training after my holiday.

But here's the thing – once I started pedalling and chatting with Jamie, something shifted.

The ride turned out to be pretty enjoyable, and I even surprised myself by keeping up a good pace. Not too shabby for someone who felt like they were running on empty, right?

Fast forward to Sunday.

My partner and I had planned a hike, another activity I usually love. Who doesn't enjoy a good walk in nature, soaking in the great outdoors?

Well, apparently, I – at least on that day.

From the get-go, my legs felt like jelly, and my body seemed to have nothing left to give.

Now, you might be wondering, "Didn't you feel wiped out after Saturday's ride?" And you'd be absolutely right - I was exhausted from the ride the day before.

In hindsight, maybe a hike wasn't the best idea. But hindsight is 20/20, isn't it?

As we kept walking, it dawned on me - this wasn't just regular tiredness, but probably the early signs of overtraining.

The activities I normally loved had become a chore. I was just going through the motions, eager to get it over with rather than savouring the experience.

So, what's the lesson here? It's simple, really, but oh-so-important: we need to listen to our bodies and rest.

How often do we push ourselves, ignoring the signals our bodies send us?

We're so focused on our goals, on improving, on not "wasting" a day, that we forget one crucial fact: rest is not a waste of time. It's an essential part of any training regimen.

Just think about it - if your car's check engine light came on, you wouldn't keep driving, would you?

So why do we so often ignore the warning signs our bodies give us?

After my weekend wake-up call, I decided to take a complete rest this week.

No cycling, no hiking, just giving my body the break it was clearly asking for.

And you know what? It's not always easy to do nothing when you're used to being active.

But it's necessary if we want to recover, recharge, and rediscover our enthusiasm for training.

Are you nodding along, thinking, "Yeah, I've been there"? Or maybe you're wondering how to recognise these signs in yourself?

Perhaps you're struggling to find the right balance between pushing your limits and respecting your body's needs?

If any of this resonates with you, I've got something that might help. My one-to-one mentorship program is designed to help athletes like you navigate these challenges.

We'll work together to optimise your training, recognise your body's signals, and achieve your goals without burning out.

Check out Andrew's story about overcoming burnout and overtraining with our one-to-one support.

Want to learn more?

Just click the link to learn more about my mentorship programme.

After all, wouldn't it be great to have someone in your corner, helping you avoid the pitfalls and reach your full potential?

Remember, listening to your body isn't weakness – it's wisdom. So, are you ready to train smarter, not just harder?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Neil

P.S. Don't let overtraining derail your progress. Reach out now to learn more about my one-to-one mentorship program. Your future self will thank you!

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