Given the recent lull, I'm happy to report....
I'm still in it. Actually, it's no longer a lull. It's a rut. I can make a bunch of excuses as to why I'm only putting in one or two workouts per week as opposed to my season high average of 8 (and I intend to do so...be patient). But the bottom line is this. I've overcommitted to things that...and I'm just going to be honest here...I would much rather be doing than training.
In the last few weeks, several things have happened that have drained time and energy (I told you I'd make excuses). Kindergarten started. I've had family visit me, and I have visited my family. We switched Kindergartens two weeks into school. I've participated in setting up and selling at a huge consignment sale, I've taught three scuba classes simultaneously. My dog has been injured twice. We have school, church, swim, soccer, bible study and friends.
Oh yeah, and it rained. And rained. And rained. When one is not mentally prepared to suddenly be forced inside for a workout, one would much rather sit on the couch and watch the Emmy's...or Star Trek...or even paint drying. The thought of sitting on the bike trainer makes me want to cry.
The other issue I've had with all of the above stuff is the oppressive amount of stress I was feeling over all of it. I wasn't sleeping well, and my response to stress is to stop eating. Not good if I want to get in a decent weight workout. Feeling woozy 10 minutes in is a bad thing. For the first time in...well, ever...I've been upset about losing 5 pounds over the last 4 weeks. This was mostly finely tuned muscle (hey, why are you laughing?). For those of you who have seen me and have known me most of my life, you know this is the most trim I have ever been. That extra 5 pounds gone is a problem.
So I signed up for Training Peaks. This is an online training tool for athletes of various disciplines to keep track of their training. I also purchased an "off-season" training plan, and the author of the plan has entered tips that are specific to just me. Basically, she doesn't expect slowpoke over here to run 9 minute miles or swim faster than 1:45 per 100. This training plan currently has me doing around 7 hours a week.
Pffft. Yeah right. Last week I did 2.
Ironman Boulder is just over 10 months away. I have an intermediate goal of finishing a marathon this winter, so I should really get started on training for that. I've heard it said that there is no real off season for the endurance athlete. I can see why. My first few runs after The Lull hurt. They hurt bad. Advil is a constant companion, and in a "you know you are getting old when" moment, I realized I need to carry it with me at all times.
I know I will find my motivation. It won't be on the treadmill or on the trainer or in some bolt of lightning "a-ha" moment. It will be in the results. Results come when I finally light a fire under my butt and hit the pavement. I will eventually see the miles go by faster, I'll be able to go farther, and I will get stronger once again. It's time to find my rhythm; set my alarm for 5:00 am and just get it done. Plan my day around the training plan. 10 months is a long time...and yet it isn't.
On the plus side: today is the first day of Fall, which begins my favorite two seasons of running. I love running in cooler weather (btw, the marathon is in Phoenix. You may shake your head in wonder).
Until next time. Happy Autumn!
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
CHOOSE CAREFULLY
"Choose your Ironman carefully." I heard these words from an accomplished triathlete somewhere along the line. Made sense when I started to think about it. Although the next year will be tough going, I had a difficult time just deciding which Ironman to enter. On the surface, this makes no sense. 140.6 miles would be difficult no matter where you do this, right? Well, yes, but you can choose your difficulty...sort of. With 31 events in the IM series -- 11 in the USA alone, it is not a decision to be taken lightly.
For example, based on the race, when is the training period? How often can you get out for a bike ride or an open water swim in the middle of winter when you live in Colorado? (The answer, btw, is never)
What does the bike course look like? Do you like flat courses, or do you like climbing? For me, the flatter the better. Everything on a slight downhill would be nice.
What about professional or family life? Some people have to choose their race based on school or work schedules. With my son in Kindergarten, I will have to consider that summers will make training a challenge.
Then traveling...Although the event is prolific, not everyone has an Ironman event in their backyard. How difficult is it to get to the event? There's a term I've heard...race-cation. This occurs when a die-hard athlete will get on an airplane or road trip to a location NOT in their backyard.
For example, based on the race, when is the training period? How often can you get out for a bike ride or an open water swim in the middle of winter when you live in Colorado? (The answer, btw, is never)
What does the bike course look like? Do you like flat courses, or do you like climbing? For me, the flatter the better. Everything on a slight downhill would be nice.
What about professional or family life? Some people have to choose their race based on school or work schedules. With my son in Kindergarten, I will have to consider that summers will make training a challenge.
Then traveling...Although the event is prolific, not everyone has an Ironman event in their backyard. How difficult is it to get to the event? There's a term I've heard...race-cation. This occurs when a die-hard athlete will get on an airplane or road trip to a location NOT in their backyard.
When I started thinking about which event to enter, I had 3 races in the mix: Canada (BC), Wisconsin, and Coeur d'Alene. Where's the Boulder race? I'll come back to that.
The first was Ironman Canada, held in Whistler, BC in late August. This actually sounded like fun...then I looked at the bike profile. My friend and training partner is an excellent cyclist, and loves the challenge of climbing. Please refer to my earlier statement about downhill. IMBC has over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, and just thinking about it hurts. The other issue is traveling to the event, and that my peak training hours would fall during the summer.
Another idea was Ironman Wisconsin, a September race in Madison. This year's race is only a few days away. Being close to my family would be great! However, I have heard that this is a difficult event (this is all relative, right? I mean we are talking about 140 miles.) The bike course is not as hilly, but there are many turns on the bike course. As with the Canada event, travel is still an issue, as is the training schedule.
Then I ran into a woman who was training for Ironman Coeur d'Alene. I thought, "Idaho in June. Why?" However, after talking with her, it made sense to add that to the mix. She's a mom, too, and has difficulty training during the summer while her kids are out of school. Hmmm. Might be worth a look! I could do all of my heavy training through the school year. The travel, however, still made this trip less than desirable.
I had pretty much made up my mind on the Idaho race, and was ready to take the leap. Two days after the Boulder Sprint and 4 days before the 2014 Idaho race opened for registration, I was at Colorado Multisport for a bike fitting. While they were working on my bike, I'm browsing around. Two guys were talking about "Boulder Ironman" -- My ears perked up...did that mean...surely I misunderstood...they are talking about the HALF Ironman...My curiosity got the better of me, so I checked the IM website and sure enough, the event series would expand to Boulder in 2014! That seemed to solve a lot of my problems! Ironman Boulder became the best option. I'm still traveling, but not as far. I'm still training over the summer, but I have options.
This inaugural event created such a buzz in the area that even non-triathletes were talking about it! I began to wonder if I would even get in! However, back in March I made a very good decision (although I might have argued that point back then) that, at the time I did not know would benefit my Ironman registration. I had registered for the 2013 Boulder Tri Series, and in so doing, I got priority access to 2014 Ironman Boulder. The event sold out within 10 days (which is pretty fast...not like Justin Bieber sell-out fast, but still). Other IM events have sold out in a day, or even in a matter of hours.
Frankly, I'm surprised it took so long for Boulder to get an Ironman event. Boulder is home to many world class professional triathletes, and the elite circuit regularly trains here. My college stomping ground teems with cyclists and triathletes crawling the hills and highways surrounding the town like ants on an anthill. What is even better is how the residents respect those athletes. In many communities around Colorado, particularly on the Front Range, cyclists are disdained by the area drivers. There are road rage stories about drivers against cyclists, and while the concept of "share the road" goes both ways, in a fight between a bicycle and a car...the car wins. However in Boulder, these incidents are extremely rare. The athletic community supports itself very well in Boulder. So, I guess it's about time that the PRB gets an international event.
The final challenge will be next summer. I'll have 7 weeks of training with 12 to 18 hours per week. Although it will still be a "race-cation" in that I'm staying in Boulder for a couple of days, I can still train on the course in the months leading up to the race.
And then there is the finish line. Anyone who knows Boulder knows that Pearl Street is the place to be. So the race organizers have the finish line on Pearl Street mall. After well over a dozen hours punishing myself, the elation of crossing that line only steps from my Alma Mater...At this point, I can't even begin to imagine what that will feel like, but right now there is a smile on my face just thinking about it. Hopefully, I have chosen wisely.
The first was Ironman Canada, held in Whistler, BC in late August. This actually sounded like fun...then I looked at the bike profile. My friend and training partner is an excellent cyclist, and loves the challenge of climbing. Please refer to my earlier statement about downhill. IMBC has over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, and just thinking about it hurts. The other issue is traveling to the event, and that my peak training hours would fall during the summer.
Another idea was Ironman Wisconsin, a September race in Madison. This year's race is only a few days away. Being close to my family would be great! However, I have heard that this is a difficult event (this is all relative, right? I mean we are talking about 140 miles.) The bike course is not as hilly, but there are many turns on the bike course. As with the Canada event, travel is still an issue, as is the training schedule.
Then I ran into a woman who was training for Ironman Coeur d'Alene. I thought, "Idaho in June. Why?" However, after talking with her, it made sense to add that to the mix. She's a mom, too, and has difficulty training during the summer while her kids are out of school. Hmmm. Might be worth a look! I could do all of my heavy training through the school year. The travel, however, still made this trip less than desirable.
I had pretty much made up my mind on the Idaho race, and was ready to take the leap. Two days after the Boulder Sprint and 4 days before the 2014 Idaho race opened for registration, I was at Colorado Multisport for a bike fitting. While they were working on my bike, I'm browsing around. Two guys were talking about "Boulder Ironman" -- My ears perked up...did that mean...surely I misunderstood...they are talking about the HALF Ironman...My curiosity got the better of me, so I checked the IM website and sure enough, the event series would expand to Boulder in 2014! That seemed to solve a lot of my problems! Ironman Boulder became the best option. I'm still traveling, but not as far. I'm still training over the summer, but I have options.
This inaugural event created such a buzz in the area that even non-triathletes were talking about it! I began to wonder if I would even get in! However, back in March I made a very good decision (although I might have argued that point back then) that, at the time I did not know would benefit my Ironman registration. I had registered for the 2013 Boulder Tri Series, and in so doing, I got priority access to 2014 Ironman Boulder. The event sold out within 10 days (which is pretty fast...not like Justin Bieber sell-out fast, but still). Other IM events have sold out in a day, or even in a matter of hours.
Frankly, I'm surprised it took so long for Boulder to get an Ironman event. Boulder is home to many world class professional triathletes, and the elite circuit regularly trains here. My college stomping ground teems with cyclists and triathletes crawling the hills and highways surrounding the town like ants on an anthill. What is even better is how the residents respect those athletes. In many communities around Colorado, particularly on the Front Range, cyclists are disdained by the area drivers. There are road rage stories about drivers against cyclists, and while the concept of "share the road" goes both ways, in a fight between a bicycle and a car...the car wins. However in Boulder, these incidents are extremely rare. The athletic community supports itself very well in Boulder. So, I guess it's about time that the PRB gets an international event.
The final challenge will be next summer. I'll have 7 weeks of training with 12 to 18 hours per week. Although it will still be a "race-cation" in that I'm staying in Boulder for a couple of days, I can still train on the course in the months leading up to the race.
And then there is the finish line. Anyone who knows Boulder knows that Pearl Street is the place to be. So the race organizers have the finish line on Pearl Street mall. After well over a dozen hours punishing myself, the elation of crossing that line only steps from my Alma Mater...At this point, I can't even begin to imagine what that will feel like, but right now there is a smile on my face just thinking about it. Hopefully, I have chosen wisely.
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