As I approach the start of my 6 month training plan, I'm starting to realize just how much things are going to change. I was doing pretty well, up to this month, managing everything I have going on. But the past month, as my workouts grew a little bit more, it's been harder than normal. Between my real job, personal training, teaching at the YMCA, nutritionist appointments, ART appointments, swim lessons, a social life and that little thing called IM training, I'm stretched pretty thin. It's finally all catching up to me and I realize that something is gonna have to give. Since I can't quit the day job and IM training is my focus for the remainder of the year, I see my social life slowly slipping away from me. I knew I wouldn't have much of a life this summer, but for the first time it's becoming real. I felt a little down the other day thinking about a lonely summer and how I'll have to sit so many fun things out, but I made this decision and I want it so badly that I know it will all be worth it.
On a brighter note, I survived my first long ride outside in aero position last Saturday!! The first half hour was a little rough but I quickly settled in. You're so wobbly when you're in aero and any slight movement feels so exaggerated, especially if you hit an unexpected bump. But I'm happy to report that I had no crashes except when I went to get off the damn bike. Had my left foot unclipped, as I always do, and I fell to the right. Go figure. Bruised up my right hip, knee and wrist pretty good but at least that's better than hitting a tree. I made it through a little over 2 hours and headed home feeling so positive. Before I even left for that ride, I knew it was an important one. I needed to set the tone for the rest of the summer and I couldn't be happier it started off so well. Not only did I feel good in aero, I felt really strong when we pushed the pace. The bike is, and probably always will be, very scary to me. But I finished that ride on Saturday knowing I will be absolutely fine. And with the amount of time I'll be spending on the bike, it can only get better!
I can't believe I've been counting down since January, never really thinking May would get here. And now here I am, a week to go. I have a feeling the next few months are going to fly.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Training Plan!
Since January my coach has been providing me with monthly goals to build up to and reach each month. While I begged and pleaded for a "training schedule", we he decided that it was smarter to give me flexible goals each month while I built up my endurance. By doing this, I wouldn't be bound to a strict training plan and I wouldn't get burned out before the meat of training even started. Now, I did take his goals and put them in a pretty little Excel format but I followed orders and didn't force myself into a rigid routine. If I had to skip a swim or move a bike ride, I didn't freak out about it. As long as I hit my goal each month, I knew I was on target for where I needed to be.
So I've slowly been building up my long bike rides, my endurance swims and my long run over the past 4 months while anxiously awaiting the start of "real" training and my official 6 month training plan. This past weekend I couldn't take the suspense any longer asked my coach if I could finally see it. Not knowing what I was in for was exciting and scary. I expected the worst, that's for sure. The training plan came with an intro document to explain things and explicitly pointed out that this plan is tried and proven and has produced an Ironman finisher every time it has been used. The last sentence said, "You are going to be an Ironman at the end of all this hard work." I screeched with excitement when I read that sentence and have read it about 20 times since!
Following the intro document I quickly opened my training plan and the associated document to explain all the workouts. My first reaction was that it all looked very manageable...almost too manageable. I freaked out a little bit and re-read the intro document, "Your plan will make you an Ironman." I have that over the top mentality that more training is better, even though I've learned the hard way that overtraining is the dumbest thing you can do. This process is about getting me to the start of the race healthy both physically and mentally, it's not about beating me down to the point where I don't even make it there. I spent the next day looking at the plan, walking away from it, coming back and looking again. Each time I became more comfortable with it and the progression built into each month.
And then last night it all came together. I was beaming while I rode the bike trainer, thinking about the crazy weekend workouts that lie ahead. The freak out was over. This is my schedule for the next 6 months. I'm going to eat, breathe, sleep Ironman training and I'm going to do it with the biggest smile on my face. Because at the end of all this hard work, I WILL be an Ironman.
So I've slowly been building up my long bike rides, my endurance swims and my long run over the past 4 months while anxiously awaiting the start of "real" training and my official 6 month training plan. This past weekend I couldn't take the suspense any longer asked my coach if I could finally see it. Not knowing what I was in for was exciting and scary. I expected the worst, that's for sure. The training plan came with an intro document to explain things and explicitly pointed out that this plan is tried and proven and has produced an Ironman finisher every time it has been used. The last sentence said, "You are going to be an Ironman at the end of all this hard work." I screeched with excitement when I read that sentence and have read it about 20 times since!
Following the intro document I quickly opened my training plan and the associated document to explain all the workouts. My first reaction was that it all looked very manageable...almost too manageable. I freaked out a little bit and re-read the intro document, "Your plan will make you an Ironman." I have that over the top mentality that more training is better, even though I've learned the hard way that overtraining is the dumbest thing you can do. This process is about getting me to the start of the race healthy both physically and mentally, it's not about beating me down to the point where I don't even make it there. I spent the next day looking at the plan, walking away from it, coming back and looking again. Each time I became more comfortable with it and the progression built into each month.
And then last night it all came together. I was beaming while I rode the bike trainer, thinking about the crazy weekend workouts that lie ahead. The freak out was over. This is my schedule for the next 6 months. I'm going to eat, breathe, sleep Ironman training and I'm going to do it with the biggest smile on my face. Because at the end of all this hard work, I WILL be an Ironman.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Stupid Little Things
It's not the training that I've been doing that has me overwhelmed. Or the crazy amount of training I'm about to do over the next 7 months. I couldn't be more excited for May to get here so I can start the 6 month count down and see what I'm really made of. And it's not the thought of having no life until November 4th that has me upset. It's not wondering how I'll fit in all my workouts and still being able to stay awake for work that worries me. Nope, none of these things are really bothering me (yet). Instead, it's... ALL...THE...LITTLE...THINGS.
1) I know nothing about all the little details about cycling. And I don't learn well from reading, I'm a watch and learn kind of girl. I've attended bike maintenance classes, took notes, paid attention...and I still feel lost. Completely lost. And it doesn't help when people tell you different things, either. Who the heck is right?!
2) I feel like I don't know the best gear/equipment to get...and that can be a little upsetting because in case you didn't know, for triathlons, you need A LOT of stuff. And none of it is cheap.
3) I've been practicing changing flats and I have good attempts and bad. Then once I finally get the tire and tube on, I struggle because the pump/CO2 dispenser I have on my bike sucks butt. Which I think is because of #2 above. And these purchases that prove to be the wrong choice (there are more than a few!) are adding up and I've made some expensive mistakes.
4) I don't know what maintenance my bike needs when. I currently have two maintenance packages at two different shops because I don't know what I'm doing. The one is close to home but now I'm wondering if they really know what they are doing. The one bike shop I love is 45 minutes away and with everything I have going on, it's just not feasible to be going back and forth over there all the time.
5) When I bought my road bike last winter, I never thought it would be used for an Ironman. But some aerobars later and that's what I'm using for IMFL. I can't turn back time but I wish I would have thought the process out a little more before I bought this one. I have a fear I'm trying to make my road bike do something it wasn't designed to do.
The list really could go on and on about all the little things that I'm worried about. Maybe I'm finding things to stress me out because the actual training isn't worrying me. Deep inside I know I can handle the training. I just sometimes wish tris were like running...all you need to do is throw on a pair of shoes and head out the door. I'm so type A (shocking, I know) and not having everything perfect and knowing every little detail is making me feel like I'm in way over my head. I even said to Andy this past weekend that I'm scared I bit off more than I can chew. And this comment came out of frustration when changing a tire, nothing to do with training.
*sigh*
Where do I go to learn all that I need to know?!?!?
1) I know nothing about all the little details about cycling. And I don't learn well from reading, I'm a watch and learn kind of girl. I've attended bike maintenance classes, took notes, paid attention...and I still feel lost. Completely lost. And it doesn't help when people tell you different things, either. Who the heck is right?!
2) I feel like I don't know the best gear/equipment to get...and that can be a little upsetting because in case you didn't know, for triathlons, you need A LOT of stuff. And none of it is cheap.
3) I've been practicing changing flats and I have good attempts and bad. Then once I finally get the tire and tube on, I struggle because the pump/CO2 dispenser I have on my bike sucks butt. Which I think is because of #2 above. And these purchases that prove to be the wrong choice (there are more than a few!) are adding up and I've made some expensive mistakes.
4) I don't know what maintenance my bike needs when. I currently have two maintenance packages at two different shops because I don't know what I'm doing. The one is close to home but now I'm wondering if they really know what they are doing. The one bike shop I love is 45 minutes away and with everything I have going on, it's just not feasible to be going back and forth over there all the time.
5) When I bought my road bike last winter, I never thought it would be used for an Ironman. But some aerobars later and that's what I'm using for IMFL. I can't turn back time but I wish I would have thought the process out a little more before I bought this one. I have a fear I'm trying to make my road bike do something it wasn't designed to do.
The list really could go on and on about all the little things that I'm worried about. Maybe I'm finding things to stress me out because the actual training isn't worrying me. Deep inside I know I can handle the training. I just sometimes wish tris were like running...all you need to do is throw on a pair of shoes and head out the door. I'm so type A (shocking, I know) and not having everything perfect and knowing every little detail is making me feel like I'm in way over my head. I even said to Andy this past weekend that I'm scared I bit off more than I can chew. And this comment came out of frustration when changing a tire, nothing to do with training.
*sigh*
Where do I go to learn all that I need to know?!?!?
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