04/05/2026
Where’s the Sun Gone? Vitamin D Deficiency & My Disappearing Motivation
By Craig Wood
The sun seems like a distant memory.
I’m not even convinced it was real at this point. Lanzarote feels like a dream I once had — a warm, happy place where I bounced out of bed, trained like a hero, and convinced myself I was a professional athlete.
Now?
I wake up, look outside, and it’s just… grey.
Not even interesting grey.
Just flat, miserable, “why bother” grey.
The Great British Motivation Thief
Let’s be honest.
The sun doesn’t just give you light — it gives you:
Motivation
Energy
Hope
The illusion you’re fitter than you are
Take it away, and what are you left with?
A man standing in the kitchen at 4am, staring into a coffee, wondering where it all went wrong.
Vitamin D: The Unsung Hero
I’ve now reached the point where my main source of sunlight is:
A tablet.
That’s it.
One small capsule pretending to be the sun.
I take it and think:
“This will fix everything.”
It doesn’t.
I’m still tired.
Still pale.
Still questioning whether I need a second breakfast.
But mentally, it helps.
Placebo or not, I’m clinging to it like it’s a performance-enhancing drug.
The Death of Motivation
In Lanzarote:
“Let’s ride 130km and film it.”
In the UK:
“Let’s sit down and think about riding.”
There’s a big difference.
The alarm goes off at 4am and instead of jumping up, I lie there negotiating with myself like a hostage situation.
“You don’t have to train today.”
“It’s probably still cold anyway.”
“You could double up tomorrow.”
We all know how that ends.
You don’t double up tomorrow.
You just feel worse.
Winter’s Over… Apparently
Here’s the biggest lie we’re told:
“Winter’s finished.”
Is it though?
Because it doesn’t feel finished.
We’re stuck in that awkward middle ground where:
It’s not freezing
But it’s definitely not warm
The sun occasionally shows up… just to tease you
You still don’t trust leaving the house without three layers
Summer feels like it’s still about six months away, even when the calendar says otherwise.
It’s like the UK is stuck buffering.
The Body Knows
Here’s the real issue.
Without the sun:
Muscles feel tighter
Energy drops
Sleep feels off
Motivation disappears
You’re doing the same sessions…
But everything feels harder.
Not physically impossible.
Just… heavier.
Like someone’s quietly turned gravity up.
The Battle Is Different Now
This time of year isn’t about peak performance.
It’s about not completely falling apart.
Some days, the win isn’t:
A PB
A perfect session
Or smashing intervals
It’s just:
Turning up.
Getting on the bike.
Going out the door.
Doing something.
Even if it feels average.
The Small Wins Matter More
Because when the sun disappears…
So does the easy motivation.
What’s left is:
Habit
Discipline
Stubbornness
Some days I’m not training because I want to.
I’m training because I know if I don’t… I’ll regret it.
Holding It Together (Just About)
This is where the basics matter more than ever:
Keep fueling properly (even when you just want biscuits)
Keep moving (even when you don’t want to)
Keep showing up (even when it feels pointless)
And yes…
SNG Endure still plays its part.
Because when energy is low and motivation is lower, the last thing you need is to completely fall apart mid-session.
At least if the legs have something in them, you’ve got a chance.
Final Thought
The sun will come back.
Eventually.
Probably.
Until then, it’s less about being a triathlon god and more about being:
A slightly tired, slightly pale, but still moving endurance athlete.
And honestly?
That’s enough.
Now if you’ll excuse me…
I’m off to take my Vitamin D tablet and pretend it’s a week in Lanzarote.
— Craig 🩷🖤
