YOU MAY ALREADY BE FAMILIAR with the concept of overtraining – generally marked by physical signs such as a decline in performance, prolonged recovery and an inability to keep up with what your training demands. But here, we’ll explore the concept of training burnout, which is a little different – in that it’s primarily characterised by emotional and mental exhaustion, a reduced sense of accomplishment and a loss of love for running.
• The causes of burnout
Runners can be very target focused, and running is a highly measurable sport, with success or perceived failure measured in minutes and seconds in a race or paces and splits in training. What starts as an activity that promotes a healthy mind and body can slip into something quite different. This can
