You know how you get in the “zone” and you’re motivated, things are going well, and you’re being rewarded with successes?

I’m kind of the opposite of that right now.

I’m not going to sugar coat it; I’m struggling.

I seem to have injured myself again, and it doesn’t really to matter where it is, pain that doesn’t go away after a while is demoralizing.

It doesn’t help that I know that it’s just my stupid IT band again, or that I know what I need to do to start the healing yet again, because I’m tired.

It hit me out of the blue this time, the feeling that I was sinking under the surface. January is always hard for me, but we had a fantastic weekend because we had a surprise break in the cold weather with blue skies and 60F temperatures.

It was glorious! I ran outside Saturday morning on the muddy trails and came home dirty and sweaty and feeling pretty damn good about myself. On Sunday I went for the first real ride on my super go-faster racing bike that, I’m not gonna lie, scared the shit out of me – especially when I discovered the hard way that the cleat tension on my pedals was too tight and my feet were stuck. Despite the very real chance of ending up in the river still clamped to my bike, it was an awesome ride.  I can’t wait to spend more time on the bike this summer.

They were great days, and I really needed that bit of sun and warmth in the middle of the cold and dark of winter.

So I’m not sure what happened between Sunday and Monday evening, but I got to the gym and just resented the hell out of being there. I wanted to be outside, I know that much. I wasn’t 2 minutes into my run and my leg was hurting with each step, and I just couldn’t face it. I slammed my hand on the STOP button and left the gym. I grabbed my bag from the locker room and just limped out.

I haven’t quit like that in a really long time.

I am on the plateau to end all plateaus (since October), I’m hurting, and I’m just over being on this damn train right now.

I need a change.

I’m going to take it easy the rest of this week. Ice, stretching, sauna, and maybe swimming are all I’m doing so I can try to calm down the angry leg. Once I get that under control I am going to re-evaluate my program.  I have to bust through this plateau or I’m going to lose my mind. If I were honest with myself I’d admit that I haven’t been working out as hard as I should be. You can be in the gym 6 days a week and still phone it in.

There has to be a way to get through a winter without falling into the January trap, but I haven’t found it yet. Last year it seemed to last forever, and I’m not going to let it this year. Quitting again is not an option.