SKATE TIP OF THE WEEK
Inline secrets from the world's top skaters and coaches

This week's tip:

Banishing Burnout!
How to keep the fun in your inline skating

By Jimmy Blair II
 

There may be a few inline races left left on the calendar. But essentially we've come to the end of the season. That means many of us (unless you also do indoor) will be hanging up the skates for a few months, which is not a bad thing in my mind.

At the end of a season, it's normal to feel a little burned out. One telltale sign is if you are starting to dread those "have-to" workouts.

So what's the solution?

Give yourself a break. Take some time off skates. Instead of pushing yourself through joyless workouts, take the time to do some other things you like. Go to the gym. Do some running, cycling or whatever else you enjoy doing to keep in shape.

As I've been told several times, "If you're not having fun (racing, training, skating ... whatever), what's the point?"

Exactly!

For me, there's nothing more discouraging than getting to a race (or workout, for that matter) and dreading it.

Every time I put on my skates, I want it to be fun!

Now, I know that hard training can be painful. But no matter what, I make it a point to enjoy myself.

Inline skating is a great way to get in shape and stay healthy. But, as with anything, you can ruin it by turning it into a chore. Avoid this trap, which befalls many athletes who take themselves (and life?) too seriously.

The next time you lace up — whether it's next week or next year — remember that skating is not just something that helps you stay in shape and develop lifelong friends, it's also a blast.

(Oct. 16, 2009)

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Jimmy Blair II is a former Indoor National champion and an outdoor skater, who most recently won the Texas Road Rash in 2007. He started skating when he was 13. He lives in Cumming, GA, with his wife and son and is the maker of Pinnacle speed boots. "I make my living making people's feet happy," he says. "But God, family, friends and skating are what I live for."

• Pinnacle Racing

Related reading:

• Skate Tip of the Week Archive
• Beginners Guide to Outdoor Racing
• Beginners Guide to Inline Skating