Cycling is one of the hardest and most demanding sports that exists. We know that our favorite sport demands effort, sacrifices, even subtracting time from daily activities to which we would also like to have dedication. For all this, as the months advance, it is normal for fatigue to arise.
What costs the idea most is to the appearance of another type of exhaustion, a fainting that is not on the legs but above, in our head. It is the syndrome of
Burnout of the cyclist.
This exhaustion was a syndrome that until a few years ago seemed reserved for professionals. But more and more
amateurs that suffer from it.
What does it consist of? What are your causes? How can I avoid it? They are questions to which we will answer below.
What is the syndrome of Burnout of the cyclist?
The syndrome of
Burnout of the cyclist -or burned cyclist syndrome -
It is a constant emotional state that manifests itself in the form of mental exhaustion. First, you have to distinguish it from those specific occasions in which you feel that it is not the day to give pedaling and that you would do any case for skipping a training.
The load that the cyclist perceives, both mental and physical, can come from frustration for not achieving the objectives that are marked, whether competition or during training.
He
Burnout It is a prolonged feeling of disinterest that begins to be perceived occasionally and ends up becoming permanent.
Always arrives accompanied by dissatisfaction, either with the proposed objectives or with the sensations on the bicycle.
Apathy, reluctance or lack of interest in undertaking, not new challenges, but routine training or exits, must put us on guard.
What are your causes?
According to a study published in the
International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, conducted by Spanish researchers,
There is a direct relationship between Burnout And the stress perceived by the athlete, a stress that is defined by the psychological and physical burden it receives.
Stress is, therefore, the key, since it can function as a stimulating agent in specific situations of demand, and even be positive to solve them, but
When it becomes chronic, it generates that fearsome feeling of being burned.
The load that the cyclist perceives, both mental and physical, can come from frustration for not achieving the objectives that are marked, whether competition or during training.
But also because of the opposite, that is, having overcome the different challenges raised and
Do not find motivating challenges.
The best recipe to avoid the Burnout It is to reach the greatest possible balance between our sports facet and the rest of our daily lives, giving space to other hobbies.
Discomforts and injuries, along with personal, work and family concerns, which we can call additional to sport, also contribute to the appearance of this symptom.
How can I prevent and avoid burned cyclist syndrome?
Although sometimes we do not create it, especially at the beginning of the season, cyclists, like any practitioner of a sport,
We are unable to always perform at the maximum.
Assuming it is key to understanding that
Within our planning we must include as many short -term challenges as mental rest stages. We are not talking about completely stop our activity when we are in the middle of the season, but to be able to
decrease the intensity of training for short periods of time, or to combine the pedaling with other complementary sports.
The best recipe to avoid the
Burnout It is to reach the greatest possible balance between our sports facet and the rest of our daily lives, giving space to other hobbies.
Maintaining a positive attitude in a sport such as cycling, which can become very lonely and require many hours of dedication, is essential.
Therefore too
We advise you to alternate different types of training as much as possible and that you even enter group outputs, although the rest of the participants are not exactly in your rhythm or intensity.
Among the strategies that also work are to manage emotions after the competition. Assume the disappointments, small or large, and be objective enough to understand where it has failed and what can be improved reports great benefits and moves away the ghost of demotivation.
If you need it, go to a specialist
If despite following these tips you can't get the
Burnout syndrome Or do not know how to do it, we recommend that you turn to a sports psychology specialist.
Experts have been studying this ailment for years and have an extensive bibliography to consult. In many cases they also have long experience dealing with the subject, since
Each time athletes of a greater number of disciplines have episodes of passivity and demotivation for no apparent reason.
A specialist can help you distinguish the symptoms from those that can cause other situations, such as training or depression, with which it is sometimes confused.
