Recovery Week [Week 12; 8 To Go]
The Elements [Week 13; 7 To Go]
2 Hour Ride Date Day [Week 14; 6 To Go]
Don't Lose Steam!! [Week 15; 5 To Go]
Another month in the books and just over a month to go!! This is the time of training that can be brutal, but rewarding. (The Build phase for those familiar with periodization) You are putting in some of the longest sessions in preparation for the race, and often they can be tough workouts. Recovery is key. Recover from each workout with proper fueling - both hydration and calories. Recover from each day with enough sleep (I need to heed my own advice). Recover from each week by using your rest days to REST. Recover each month with an active rest week where the hours drop and intensity of workout is low so you can go forth and conquer the next month. Recover, Recover, Recover!
A few weeks ago I had one of those hard workouts on a Sunday. A swim, bike, run brick. A brick session is where you have a workout of more than one discipline back to back. This not only helps train your body to go from the swim to the bike to the run, but also helps you realize what you need to complete a swift (or at least reduced stress) transition during the race. I prepared the day before with the proper food. I organized with DH, so he could cover watching T during my workout. I got everything ready the night before - my hydration, my nutrition, my clothing. Everything was ready to execute the next morning. I get to the lake to start my swim....It starts to rain......then it starts to thunder (I kept telling myself "that wasn't thunder" just keep swimming)....then I see lighteneing.....and after a shortened swim, I get out, go back to the car and go home. I hem and haw back and forth about letting the weather pass or getting a move on to my ride. And it starts to hail : So, I get out of my race gear [bricks are a great opportunity to practice in the clothing you expect to race in] and hang with DH and T until the storm passes. I headed out for my bike/run and had a great rest of my workout. Sometimes mother nature causes us to change course. Just roll with it. (DH is laughing that I'm giving that as advice because I'm terrible at just rolling with it - I'm trying to get better.) It ended up being a great morning with my family. Who cares that I ended my workout a few hours later than planned? What else did I really have to do that weekend day other than be a wife and mom?
The next weekend, I had another long brick of a run/ride/run. Fortunately my DH is also a triathlete, so talking him into a 'date ride' wasn't hard. So we enlisted our willing neighbor to watch T, and took off for our date. It was a beautiful morning and we got in 38 miles. Before we were a family with a child, we would do workouts together often. I forget how much I miss them until we get to have a long 2-hr ride together. I lose site of what triathlon has brought to our family. We are both more fit and healthy parents, and it helps bring out our naturally competitive spirit. DH is now a stronger rider than I am, so I do get a bit bent out of shape from time to time that he is surpassing me, and I used to kick his butt :) But it's all goodness and I need to remember how lucky I am to have someone who understands the committment and enjoys triathlon and racing as much as I do. It's a lot easier to get him up at 5 am when it'smy race day and DH has to get T ready and occupied for the entire event when he knows I'm going to do the same thing for him.
With weeks on end (neverending it seems sometimes when you are always lacking sleep and sanity) of tough, long workouts, it can be easy to want to cash it in. I am at that point as I write this post. I am not at my best, mentally or physically. I will not be at my best this season because all that work needs rest to recover well, and I'm just not getting it. You can't execute a tough workout when you are exhausted. But that doesn't mean you do nothing at all. You do the best you can that day. That being said, you don't want to be stupid and be so exhausted that you find yourself falling alseep driving with your precious cargo in the back (been there a few times - it's scary), you don't want to be unaware riding your bike and veer into traffic or not be able to keep your balance when a car drives past you close and fast. Those are the times when sleep is more important than working out. And to be honest, most times I'm working out, I probably should be resting, but I wanted to race this season so badly that I just can't give it up. I can't lose steam - not just yet. I accept my limitations this season and chalk it up to doing my best. OK, I'm TRYING to accept my limitations :) It's hard when I want to be a stronger triathlete but just don't have the 'oompf' I should.
But I AM SO MUCH MORE this season.
I am a MOM!
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