When the alarm went off at 5:00 this morning, I wanted to turn it off and sleep for another hour or two. When I hit the trail for my warm-up, I wanted to turn around and run home. After the first and second and third mile repeat, with the air much heavier than it has been lately, I wanted to stop and cut the workout short.
But I realized that that would do me no good. I need to be 100% committed to preparing my body - and mind - to respectably finish this race.
It would be easy for me to go home after work tonight and relax, but the training plan calls for an "optional open water swim." For me now, it is no longer an option.
I have to continue reminding myself that I will do this. And this is probably a good time to once again (for the 3rd time) post this video.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Ready?
Today someone asked me if I was ready for the Ironman.
My answer was "no."
And I feel that at this point - eight weeks out - it should be no. If I was ready now, I'm not sure what I would do for the next eight weeks. How difficult it would be to maintain a race-ready peak for that long. I don't want to be able to answer "yes" to that question until the morning of September 13.
Now, if I'd been asked if I feel like I'm where I should be, I'd have to also answer "no." My cycling is there - exactly where it should be. My running is coming along and should be at the right place in the next couple of weeks. But my swimming is still lagging behind. I'm in the pool at least 2 days (hopefully 3) and in open water 2 days this week. I'm hoping that I'll inch closer and closer to where I need to be so that by September 13 I'll be there.
And because of the swimming issue, my mind isn't quite where it should be. I think July has just been a tough month mentally. I've been in kind of a holding pattern with the training in my pre-push phase. It is kind of like my base-building phase from last January/February, but not as exciting because, unlike last January when everything was new and exciting, it been kind of the same ol' thing. I'm hoping with the final push phase and the increase in training volume and intensity, my mind will be able to focus more.
I'm hoping.
My answer was "no."
And I feel that at this point - eight weeks out - it should be no. If I was ready now, I'm not sure what I would do for the next eight weeks. How difficult it would be to maintain a race-ready peak for that long. I don't want to be able to answer "yes" to that question until the morning of September 13.
Now, if I'd been asked if I feel like I'm where I should be, I'd have to also answer "no." My cycling is there - exactly where it should be. My running is coming along and should be at the right place in the next couple of weeks. But my swimming is still lagging behind. I'm in the pool at least 2 days (hopefully 3) and in open water 2 days this week. I'm hoping that I'll inch closer and closer to where I need to be so that by September 13 I'll be there.
And because of the swimming issue, my mind isn't quite where it should be. I think July has just been a tough month mentally. I've been in kind of a holding pattern with the training in my pre-push phase. It is kind of like my base-building phase from last January/February, but not as exciting because, unlike last January when everything was new and exciting, it been kind of the same ol' thing. I'm hoping with the final push phase and the increase in training volume and intensity, my mind will be able to focus more.
I'm hoping.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Case of the Blecchhies
This weekend I got a case of the blecchhies. Yeah, it's pronounced like it looks. It isn't good.
I went to my coach's open water swim camp yesterday morning. We started out at the Glade pool - a surprisingly nice "community" pool, with lap lanes and all. We went through a lot of drills that Kevin and I had already gone through. We got our swim stroke videtaped. And mine showed that my body position still sucks.
After the first session, we all planned to meet at the Beach Patrol Station on the beach at 2:00 for the second part of the camp.
That gave me time to go join Meyer at Seaside Jewish Community Center, where we were sponsoring the Kiddush. I'm not sure if I had a reaction to the food or what, but around 1:00 I felt like crap - upset stomach, tired, achy...the works.
So no second part of camp for me. Kevin and I agreed to meet this morning at 7:30 for a little one-on-one session before the next group session. But I woke up feeling just as bad as I did yesterday.
Ugh!
I NEED to get time in the water, especially the open water. I'm frustrated as hell and I'm starting to really worry about the swim. 2.4 miles is so long for me.
I just have to keep plugging away at it.
I went to my coach's open water swim camp yesterday morning. We started out at the Glade pool - a surprisingly nice "community" pool, with lap lanes and all. We went through a lot of drills that Kevin and I had already gone through. We got our swim stroke videtaped. And mine showed that my body position still sucks.
After the first session, we all planned to meet at the Beach Patrol Station on the beach at 2:00 for the second part of the camp.
That gave me time to go join Meyer at Seaside Jewish Community Center, where we were sponsoring the Kiddush. I'm not sure if I had a reaction to the food or what, but around 1:00 I felt like crap - upset stomach, tired, achy...the works.
So no second part of camp for me. Kevin and I agreed to meet this morning at 7:30 for a little one-on-one session before the next group session. But I woke up feeling just as bad as I did yesterday.
Ugh!
I NEED to get time in the water, especially the open water. I'm frustrated as hell and I'm starting to really worry about the swim. 2.4 miles is so long for me.
I just have to keep plugging away at it.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Things I Thought (or Yelled) During Yesterday's Workout
During longer training sessions (like yesterday's 3 hours on the bike followed by 30 minutes running), one's mind can easily wander. I know it shouldn't and I should stay focused, but mine ocassionally does. Here's a sampling of things I thought (or yelled) during yesterday's workout.
That woman with the baby carrier on the back of her bike just called me "biker pro." How cool is that?
Uh oh. The way I'm going is going to give me a lot more head wind. I should've gone the other way.
Route 1 between Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach isn't all that long. It's just a straight shot with nothing to look at. So it seems eternal.
What do you call a head wind that is also a side wind?
I've got to get different cycling shorts.
Why is this Gu flavor called Orange Burst? Gu doesn't burst. It only Goozes.
Frickin' wind.
What the f---? What was that that just hit me? A soda bottle? That asshole in the car speeding away just hurled a bottle at me. If I could catch up with you I'd beat the crap out of you! Moron!
I hate head winds.
Just keep your cadence up. You'll persevere against the wind.
Stupid moron.
Do I smell pickles?
Frickin' wind.
Hello, town of Millsboro. You smell like chicken poop.
If I eat one more chocolate mint Clif bar I'm going to puke.
Average trip speed at the Route 1 to Route 26 point = 17.5 mph
Average trip speed at the Route 26/Iron Branch Rd to Route 24 point = 17.2 mph
Average trip speed at the Route 24 to Plantation Rd point = 17.9 mph
Conclusion? Route 26 sucks
OK, I'm off the bike. Now go, legs, go!
What? I'm pacing at 7:24 per mile? After riding nearly 50 miles? Ridiculous!
Awesome, awesome (except for the dickhead with the soda bottle) workout.
I'm spent.
That woman with the baby carrier on the back of her bike just called me "biker pro." How cool is that?
Uh oh. The way I'm going is going to give me a lot more head wind. I should've gone the other way.
Route 1 between Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach isn't all that long. It's just a straight shot with nothing to look at. So it seems eternal.
What do you call a head wind that is also a side wind?
I've got to get different cycling shorts.
Why is this Gu flavor called Orange Burst? Gu doesn't burst. It only Goozes.
Frickin' wind.
What the f---? What was that that just hit me? A soda bottle? That asshole in the car speeding away just hurled a bottle at me. If I could catch up with you I'd beat the crap out of you! Moron!
I hate head winds.
Just keep your cadence up. You'll persevere against the wind.
Stupid moron.
Do I smell pickles?
Frickin' wind.
Hello, town of Millsboro. You smell like chicken poop.
If I eat one more chocolate mint Clif bar I'm going to puke.
Average trip speed at the Route 1 to Route 26 point = 17.5 mph
Average trip speed at the Route 26/Iron Branch Rd to Route 24 point = 17.2 mph
Average trip speed at the Route 24 to Plantation Rd point = 17.9 mph
Conclusion? Route 26 sucks
OK, I'm off the bike. Now go, legs, go!
What? I'm pacing at 7:24 per mile? After riding nearly 50 miles? Ridiculous!
Awesome, awesome (except for the dickhead with the soda bottle) workout.
I'm spent.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Back on Track
Great bike session tonight. I went to work early so I could leave work a little early (with a clear conscience) so I could be on the bike by 4:00. I'd mapped out a 2-loop route so I could make a halfway-there pit stop, loaded up my bars, bottles, and Gu's, and hit the road.
I really felt good on this one. I had some longer periods of headwinds, but I kept my cadence up in the 87-92 rpm range. I did a total of 4 hours, although about 20 minutes was spent stopped at traffic lights and in making a quick - and much needed - pit stop at home. Total distance: 65 miles; average speed: 17.7 mph.
Tomorrow is an off day, although I'm thinking that if I feel good, I might get in the pool for a while to loosen up the muscles. Thursday should be another long one.
I really felt good on this one. I had some longer periods of headwinds, but I kept my cadence up in the 87-92 rpm range. I did a total of 4 hours, although about 20 minutes was spent stopped at traffic lights and in making a quick - and much needed - pit stop at home. Total distance: 65 miles; average speed: 17.7 mph.
Tomorrow is an off day, although I'm thinking that if I feel good, I might get in the pool for a while to loosen up the muscles. Thursday should be another long one.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Lows and Highs
Wow, I just realized how long it has been since I last updated the blog. Then I realized how many ups and downs I've experienced since my last post.
Shortly the July 4th holiday I began hitting a mental wall. My training was ok - not great, but ok - but my mind just wasn't in it. I think I was questioning all of the time and effort and if it will really be worth it. At this point, if I'm not working or sleeping, I'm training, and I've had to put just about everything else on the back burner. I'd signed up for the Dave Reynold's Biathlon, picked up my race packet the day before, and then just couldn't do it. I was in bed when the starting gun went off.
In not doing the biathlon, I was able to have two days off of training in a row - something I hadn't had in a while. I guess it was good for me, because the training for me since then has been better. Last Wednesday I got in a good speed workout - hitting 2:50's for six half-mile repeats. And last Friday I had a pretty good speed workout on the bike with my coach. We did nine 1.2-mile repeats and really pushed it.
The speed work must have helped me in last Saturday's Seashore Strider 5k race. I took second in my age group and had a PR of 19:48. I felt good enough to run the route again as a cool down, and then add another mile by running home.
Yesterday I got in a good 3-hour ride. Only in southern Delaware have I been able to do an out-and-back ride and experience headwinds both ways. I was wiped out, though, for the remainder of the day and napped most of the afternoon.
I already got my 60-minute run in today and will be swimming this afternoon. This is going to be a tough week of training but it will get me ready for my "push" phase over the next month.
Only 62 days to go!
Shortly the July 4th holiday I began hitting a mental wall. My training was ok - not great, but ok - but my mind just wasn't in it. I think I was questioning all of the time and effort and if it will really be worth it. At this point, if I'm not working or sleeping, I'm training, and I've had to put just about everything else on the back burner. I'd signed up for the Dave Reynold's Biathlon, picked up my race packet the day before, and then just couldn't do it. I was in bed when the starting gun went off.
In not doing the biathlon, I was able to have two days off of training in a row - something I hadn't had in a while. I guess it was good for me, because the training for me since then has been better. Last Wednesday I got in a good speed workout - hitting 2:50's for six half-mile repeats. And last Friday I had a pretty good speed workout on the bike with my coach. We did nine 1.2-mile repeats and really pushed it.
The speed work must have helped me in last Saturday's Seashore Strider 5k race. I took second in my age group and had a PR of 19:48. I felt good enough to run the route again as a cool down, and then add another mile by running home.
Yesterday I got in a good 3-hour ride. Only in southern Delaware have I been able to do an out-and-back ride and experience headwinds both ways. I was wiped out, though, for the remainder of the day and napped most of the afternoon.
I already got my 60-minute run in today and will be swimming this afternoon. This is going to be a tough week of training but it will get me ready for my "push" phase over the next month.
Only 62 days to go!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)