Week 12: Anonymous exercise

I train with a team.  A pretty big team.  And like it or not, my ego often tends to get in the way of my training.  Sometimes looking good and trying to fit in doesn't produce the best training results for me.  On the bike, it produces anger and upset.  Why do I keep getting dropped?  In the pool, it produces a lot of wasted energy and my stroke goes to pot.  On the run, it caused me to run faster and injure myself. (But that was last year, right???)

So I had a few new experiences this week.  On my group ride, I finally decided that I wanted to enjoy my long rides. I'm not going to stop pushing.  And one day I will keep up with everyone.  But in the meantime, I'm going to like being last.  The pool?  I hired a swim coach to help me improve my stroke. 

And I've decided to do some training on my own.  I took a spin class at LA Fitness and it was refreshing that I could be anyone I wanted to be in the class and no one cared.  Oh wait, my team probably doesn't care either....but I assure you it's easier when people don't know you.

I'll also be doing some long rides on my own.  So I can relax and just enjoy being on the bike.  It's also good practice for racing when I won't have the support of my teammates next to me.

I joined the team so I'd have people around but I think it's time to do both.  Train with them.  And train on my own. 9 months to go.  Bring it. :)

Week 11: Training in the cold

The friend who introduced me to triathlons once told me he hated the cold weather and preferred the heat.  I thought he was nuts.  All summer long, and 2010 was the hottest summer I can remember, I kept wanting it to be cooler.  Much cooler. 

Now that it's cold, I finally get it.  The heat is better.  Your muscles are warm.  You aren't achey. The clothing options are much easier.  You get to sweat.  REALLY REALLY sweat.  Sweat pouring down your arms and legs and cleaning all the toxins from your body.  You get to breathe warm humid air.

And when you finish, you can plop down on the sidewalk and stretch while you wait for your teammates.  The sun is still out.  You can hang out and relax and then go to dinner.

And you can bike.  You can ride your bike.  You don't have to check the weather every day and figure out whether or not you can ride outside this weekend.  You don't have to dread two hours on a trainer.  You just load up the water and go.  And the wind can cool you off...instead of freeze you.

Come on spring.  Please come soon.  I want to sweat again. :)

Week 10: Slow and steady wins the race

OK, slow and steady might not REALLY win the race.  But it will allow me to train for 70.3 and 140.6 distances this year.  I've started running again.  And I'm back on the bike...albeit on a trainer but it's cold outside.

It's hard when your ego says "GO FAST, GET ON THE PODIUM" and your head says "I'M SICK OF LIVING IN THIS MUCH PAIN".  My friend, Todd, suggested I read Going Long.  A great deal of the book is too technical for me.  Perhaps as I learn more and progress, it will make sense to me.

What I have learned from the book is that for me to go long, I must go slow.  I MUST develop the base that I need to do these insane distances.  And cycling and running fast is NOT the way to get there.  Sure, if I had a few years under my belt, it would be a different story.  I'm brand new at this.  One year of running is simply not enough to make the increases in speed and distance that I did last year.  And it's why I got injured.

So I'm throwing my ego out the door and starting this dance all over again.  I've been running 10 minute miles.  I've been soft pedalling.  I'm taking it easy.  Until I build up the base that I need.  Maybe 2012 I'll get faster, this year is for Going Long.

Week 9: The new year

I skipped last week because there wasn't too much to say.  And I wasn't really sure how excited I was going to be for the new year but I'm actually amazed about the energy and electricity I am feeling.

I set some goals for this year.  And every year I also write down things I don't want in my life anymore and I burn the piece of paper.  Symbolic, I know, but I still enjoy doing it.

And somehow the simple act of doing that is working.  And getting rid of the things that were blocking me has really helped me find peace.  And life seems so much easier and I'm looking forward to what this year will bring.

Maybe it's the calm before the storm?  But I really dig where I'm at right now.  Looking forward to doing REV3 Half ironman distance in May.  Doing the Gulf Coast relay in May the weekend before REV3 with Lee as my partner in crime.  Swimming 5,000 meters in July.  Augusta 70.3 in September.  And of course, Ironman Florida in November.

So although I am too shy to state my goals publicly, just know that I have a sneaking suspicion that this is going to be a rather incredible year for me.  And my wish is that it is for you as well.

Week 7: Letting Go

I found out this week that I don't have a stress fracture and can begin running and cycling again.  I plan on letting go of everything I knew to be true about running from last year and start from scratch.

Letting go.  It's an interesting concept.  I don't know about you but I seem to hold onto things when I shouldn't.  Sometimes I hold onto things that aren't even in my possession.  Maybe sometimes it's good to just let go and start over.  The new year always seems a great time to do this.  Wipe the slate clean.  Start fresh. (Yeah, you can read between the lines and realize I'm not just talking about running.  Be my guest.)

My plans?  To do the airsquats I should have been doing.  Use the blue band Dr Sadri gave me.  Do all of the hip, glute, and quad exercises I need to be doing.  And slowly start running again.  Take care of my body this time instead of beating it into the ground.  Stretch.  Ice. Massage.

I'm also going to spend the next 12 days off from work cleaning out my basement and house and getting it ready for the 2011 Tri Season.  I'm excited.  I'm giddy.  I'm happy once again.

There are a lot of ups and downs training for triathlons.  I'm letting go of the downs and invite you to do the same.  Let's get out there and get ready for 2011.  I get the chills just thinking about how completely remarkable and fantastic it is going to be.

Week 6: Patience

I'll be the first to admit that patience has never been a strength for me.  I want what I want and I want it now.  So perhaps it's a good thing that Triathlon came into my life.  To force me to slow down.

Wait, you are thinking, that doesn't make any sense.  Aren't tris all about being fast?  Well yes and no.  And after spending the past 6 months or so pushing as hard as I could and training like crazy, it's very hard for me to accept the off-season.  Forced on me because your body needs rest after training so much but also because of injuries.

I never dreamed that the hardest part of the triathlon game was going to be mental for me.  Never thought of that at all when I got into this sport.  The worst part lately has been me questioning whether or not my body will ever heal.  What if I'm told to never run again?  What if I don't build the legs necessary to be able to fly on the bike?  Quite simply: what if I don't reach the goals I have set for myself?

So my solution to that shows up in two places.  One being the experience of my fellow athletes who give me advice and comfort.  The ones who have suffered stress fractures, broken collar bones, and hamstring tears who say "yes, you will recover and you will come back stronger than ever and you will succeed".  I don't know if they have any idea how helpful their words are...the impact is incredible and powerful and fills me with hope.

The other being finding ways to fill the time.  Swimming, lifting weights, and finishing all those projects around the house.  And realizing that 2011 may be the year where I won't be fast.  I won't podium.  I won't break any records.  But I'll become strong.  And more importantly, maybe it's the year that I finally learn to to be patient.

Week 5: The Diet Begins

Diet.  Ugh.  Yes, I said it.  I’m 5 weeks into my Ironman Training and it’s the off season and my injuries prevent me from doing anything other than swimming with a pool buoy and upper body weight training.

I admit I have been using food a little bit, comfort food, to ease the pain.  But after seeing 135.2 on the scale for the past few days, I had to face the fact that dieting needed to commence.

So here we go again.  If you ever dieted, and I imagine most of you have.  Because endurance athletes know that body weight is a huge factor in running and cycling fast.  I could cite many examples but I think Lance Armstrong is the one I always think of.  When he dropped the weight after getting cancer, he then went on to win all those Tours.  There are many who say he would never have gone on to victory at his pre-cancer weight.

There is this theory out there that one should gain a few pounds during the off season so that you have it to lose when you start up hard training again.  I don’t believe in this.  And I have read so many articles to the contrary.  I believe that it’s important to maintain your ideal weight.  And when you start burning more calories, then add more calories to your diet to fuel your training.

My goal?  128 pounds.  This puts me at 10% bodyfat.  That’s about the lowest I can safely achieve without health issues.  I think the first 5 pounds will come off pretty quickly because I have bounced around between 130 and 135 for the past month.

It’s breaking the 130 mark that has proven so difficult for me.  And without running or cycling to aid me, it’s going to be all food.  I’m ready.  I know what it feels like for my stomach to be screaming at me to eat while my brain is saying “no way, I have a goal here, and you Ms. Tummy, with all your incessant screaming, are NOT going to ruin that for me.”

Wish me luck.  Say a prayer.  But please don’t tempt me with anything yummy.  For I surely will cave.