Back in January, I wrote: “Training better start coming together before spring, because I’m not going to want to be throwing money at the three-sport lifestyle for months if I don’t enjoy it on some level, be it through better health or through satisfying some personal masochistic tendencies.”
Now it’s spring, at least on the calendar, and it’s time to assess. I have indeed thrown money at triathlon training, and continue to. But as Bob-O suggested, and several others as well, just work on the swimming and get ready for Boston. Well. I’ve been doing just that.
As for running, I PR’d in a 15K a couple of weeks ago, I’ve kept a reasonably OK weekly mileage of 40 miles or more, and finished a 3:15/22-mile run last Sunday that actually left me feeling good enough that I could’ve done a few extra miles. I have found that in light of all the biking (spinning) and swimming I’ve been doing I enjoy running more than ever, and in winter weather, at that. I wish my mileage was higher, but I just don’t have it in me to do more after swimming and weight-training and biking most days.
Biking is the remaining wild card, only because I’m not looking forward to the expense. I attended a workshop on how to change a tire on Tuesday night, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had been sponsored by MasterCard. Of course, it wasn’t, my tri-team set it up, and it was certainly educational, but I could just see my compulsiveness to be overly prepared with high-tech gear winning out over fiscal responsibility. I can’t say much more than that, though I think once warmer weather arrives and I can enjoy the outdoors I’ll get into it and the bike money pit as well and feel better about it. Another thing, spinning makes my quads burn every time, but ‘whatever doesn’t kill you…’
As for swimming, tomorrow will be my tenth trip to the pool in the last twelve days. And I have indeed gotten better in two months of training. My breathing is rather improved. My swimming instructor agreed with my recent poolside statement that I am my own worst critic, so as much as I want to I will not make negative comments on what I can’t do. For weeks I was waiting for the breakthrough day when I would complete 50-100 yards without stopping, but I’ve decided that’s not the right approach. I’m just going to plug away at it, and if ‘it’ (whatever that is, perhaps a PR distance, perhaps a high level of confidence) happens in April or May or whenever, then so be it. Unlike running, when it comes to swimming I can’t be moderately competitive with my past race times or set up goals, I just have to get in the pool and keep at it and get better. And that I have.
Overall I’m not as far along in tri-training as I wish I were, but I’m not going to worry about it. Frankly, I’m a little bored thinking about it all, and if it happens that I later decide I’m not ready to finish the triathlon I signed up for in July, I won’t do it. Right now, I can’t say I won’t be ready, because I’m keeping with the training. And getting ready for Boston, I’ll assess where I’m at after that, too. But that’s where I’m at, and every time I have a bad training day or I’m unhappy with a workout, I’ll think about all the people half my age (warning: he’s using the age card!) who could not physically do what I’m doing and then I’ll S-T-F-U.
And you thought I’d just written a rational assessment without getting a little snarky. That, my friends, will probably never change… Then again, the cloying image of the kitten at the ‘peep buffet’ was probably a tip-off…
5 comments:
I'd say you have the exact right attitude at this point. You've got the tri-stuff to keep you interested and preventing you from becoming completely burned with running (amazing how much you appreciate running when training for the tri stuff, I found that myself, too). And you've got the option not to do the tri if you just don't feel ready. No pressure. There are always choices and it sounds like you are making all the right ones. Hey - does the NY 1/2 marathon (Manhattan) fill up ridiculously quickly? Thinking about trekking down for taht in July...
Mindy, thank you! And I would love to see you (and anyone else up for a mid-summer half) in NYC... the NYC Half has a lottery, so it hasn't begun to fill up, you have until 5/27 to enter. The race is on 7/27, and it's pricy ($75), but at least they close Times Square for us to run through. Anyway, think about it, the race is the next best thing (in organization and size) to being in the actual marathon.
I will say this, I definiately appreciate running after getting off the bike, no matter what the distance. On the bike ( well at least in the NE races where they keep roads open to traffic)you hve to be completely focused as not to get taken out by a rapid soccer mom or ADD teenie bopper, or some crazed competitior shoving a tire lever in your front wheel because he wants to win the age group and gift cert. to Chili's damn it!
Regardless running offers time to zone out as well as a chance to prove genetics and hardcore training can beat out the most gear happy freaks, unlike the bike,high end Asics racing flats won't do shit to save you if you haven't trained.....ok runner pep talk over.
I say that if you have done all the training and still are not ready for the Patriot Half in July, then I volunteer Bob-O to tow you behind him in a raft (Hoyt-style) so you can proceed to hold on on the bike and make all us young whipper-snapper tri geeks look like fools on the run. Then you'll REALLY have a story to tell the news crews.
Bob-O, a pep talk is welcome anytime, Thank you. And Claire (Queen of Great Stories) knows what she's talking about with the raft idea. I can't lose with either of you around. Well, I can try! See, I didn't even use a pun there, so I must be serious.
Thanks again...
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