EAT, SLEEP, WORK, AND TRAIN
That's my life right now it seems. Training hard every day. I suddenly realized yesterday that I hadn't had a day off since coming back from vacation, that would be 13 days straight, trying to "catch up" from vacation time off on the bike and swim. That would be 197 miles of biking, 4 miles of swimming, 26 miles of running, and 2 strength training circuit workouts in 13 days.
And that was obviously the reason why my bike ride yesterday sucked (other than the 25-30 mph winds) and my legs were totally dead on the run. Saturday's bike ride wasn't that great either, but I was taking it somewhat easy, trying to save my legs for hopefully a decent run, which for the most part it was. I was surprised at how well my legs have been working after biking. Not that I'm fast, and not that my legs don't feel like stumps initially, but at least I'm keeping going longer without needing to stop. Saturday was no different. That is until I turned to go back and then after hitting the 1 hour mark things started to unravel some. It was just too HOT! And I should know better by now to not do an out and back on the bike path because once you go a certain distance, there is no cutting it short for any reason. Despite walking a lot more than I would have liked on the return portion, I still only took 3 minutes longer to get back to the car.
During the bike, my daughter had called and wanted to go to the beach. I was afraid storms were blowing in and didn't want to go to Lake Michigan then, since most storms come off the lake, and where the bike path is, I was basically only 20 minutes from the beach. If they were coming, I would have to sit there and wait for them to meet me. And I desperately wanted to take a shower and eat first. Instead, I called Don to see if he wanted to go too and he suggested the state park we found last summer. Its still about a 35 mile drive, but it has a good swimming area and a nice beach.
He brought his kayak so was able to paddle along while I swam. And the great part? No weeds or motorized boats! After last week's swim practice in the weedy lake we live by, I haven't been able to bring myself to get back in there in the dim morning light. This lake was relatively unbusy at that time of the day, since the fishermen usually like mornings or early evenings, and there weren't too many people on the beach or the water either. I had a good swim and we sat out in the sun while he paddled with a friend who had shown up coincidentally.
Sunday it was back out there for another 50+ mile ride. Only that didn't happen. I was tired from the start and the wind managed to suck what life I had in me out of me, so after we got to 16 miles, I wanted to turn back. I had good intentions: I figured that way I could run another 4 miles. After the 5 I ran Friday and the 8 on Saturday, in addition to the 40 minute run earlier in the week, that would have put me at an all time high mileage week for the year. Only that didn't happen. It was so windy when I started my run it got to me right away. And my legs were dead. While most of my bike/run bricks have gone well this year, this one reminded me of last summer's attempts after long rides. Run a few minutes, walk a couple, run another couple, walk, etc. After I got past the 1/2 mile mark, I just decided I'd had enough, but then made myself run the entire way back, no stopping!
Don was coming out to meet me just as I got to the 1/4 mile mark. I think he was surprised but also happy he didn't have to go any farther!
While I am more confident this year going into my half IM in 2 weeks, I also have fears about how I never think I have enough training and get mad at myself for any days I don't train the way I should (by changing things around). I'm good at sticking with a schedule, but once I go off it, I find myself overtraining (like now).
I will need to find a better balance in these next two weeks leading up to race day, that's for sure! Today is only strength training; tomorrow 45 minute spin, 45 minute swim; Wed. 45 minute run; Thursday is up in the air depending on whether we bike after work, but it will be a bike day; Friday 10 mile long run; Saturday another bike day, but not sure how long yet, and Sunday will be a last long swim. So I'm not slacking here but just cutting back some. Now if I could just get a decent night's sleep, life would be golden!
9 comments:
oI'm exhausted just reading all of that!
Give yourself some time to recuperate during this taper.
2 weeks? OMG woman, STOP!! You need to give your body a break.. your ready for the race...
you've been busy busy. am i reading correctly that your race is in 2 weeks? it's taper time. you seriously need to cut back.
you do 3 times the work I do so I can only comment on when I train for a marathon. It seems to me that how well depends not only on how well I trained but on how well I tapered. If your IM is in 2 weeks, nothing you do now is going to help you, but it can hurt you. Rest up and let the work you did before lead the way.
Taper and sleep, let the bod repair for sure! This is the time. I'm probably one of the few that actually enjoys a taper.
Yep, it's tempting to want to "make-up" for lost time and workouts but there comes a point when less is best. Remember that rest & recovery are as important as training itself.
It's easier for me to tell someone else this stuff than tell myself, though, which is why I need a coach ...
Hi Vickie
I've said it before, but I really am so impressed by people like you who can train in 3 different disciplines. I will also admit to never having to deal with either weeds or waves... lucky me.
Have a great summer.
I always feel the same way...that I haven't trained enough or done all that I could have done, when in fact, I probably did do all that I could have done.
Taper and relax. You've been putting in lots of miles. You're gonna have a great half IM!
Gosh, that is tough. Please give yourself a break. You deserve it. And remind yourself that you will do so much better with a little break every now and then.
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