Episode 29 - When More Becomes Too Much: Burnout in Ultrarunning

Ultra running demands far more than just mileage. Long runs, back-to-backs, strength work, fuelling, recovery, work, family and everyday stress all contribute to the total load an athlete carries.

In this episode, I explore burnout in ultrarunning, how it differs from normal fatigue or overtraining, and why it can gradually turn something we love into something that feels like an obligation.

We look at the key warning signs, physical and emotional exhaustion, declining motivation, reduced sense of achievement and losing enjoyment in the sport, and most importantly, what runners can do to reduce the risk.

The central message is simple: your real training load is training plus everything else happening in your life.

Sustainable ultra running isn’t about doing the maximum training you can survive. It’s about training at a level you can repeatedly absorb while protecting your motivation, health and love for running.

Key references:

1. Raedeke, T. D., & Smith, A. L. (2001). Development and preliminary validation of an Athlete Burnout Measure. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 23(4), 281–306.

2. Gustafsson, H., DeFreese, J. D., & Madigan, D. J. (2017). Athlete burnout: Review and recommendations. Current Opinion in Psychology, 16, 109–113.

3. Lonsdale, C., Hodge, K., & Rose, E. A. (2009). Athlete burnout in elite sport: A self-determination perspective. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(8), 785–795.

4. Kellmann, M., Bertollo, M., Bosquet, L., et al. (2018). Recovery and Performance in Sport: Consensus Statement. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(2), 240–245.

5. Cresswell, S. L., & Eklund, R. C. (2005). Changes in athlete burnout and motivation over a 12-week league tournament. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.