Thursday, April 16, 2009

A Little Success!

It occurred to me that my whine dial has been turned up... and then it broke off... and then I fixed it and was able to turn it down... if only a tad. Anyway my point being that I haven't taken the time to write about how WELL my training is going. Or maybe I have and I just don't remember. Anywho.  I'm exiting the third week of a three week build.  I have absolutely NAILED 90% of my workouts.  (This is where I get some sort of smarty-pants comment from my wise coach to keep my ego in check).  My perception is my own reality... so neener neener.  Where was I?  Oh yeah... things are going REALLY well.

The picture above is of a section of Lorane Highway.  It's rolling to flat and wide open... which means ALL of the elements meet you and oftentimes kick you right in the nuts!  But that's real right?  That's what its like.  You can't shelter yourself in training b/c there aint no shelter in the race.  Right?  Am I right?  Uh huh.  I am... just ask me!  Anyway... there are also mile markers on this road which makes it perfect for figuring out things like saaaaaaaay, your Ironman marathon pace?  Yup!  Last Monday I had my longest run of the season thus far and it went down like this:

1 hour warm up.  Just plodding along in zone 1.  During that first hour the weather kicked me in the nuts numerous times... but I felt so relaxed... so calm.  Quick stop at my car to throw on my new racing flats... they're BRIGHT OBNOXIOUS YELLOW!!!!  I put those things on and took off heading into the wind.  The next thing I know I'm ticking off miles well below my proposed IM pace and barely tapping into mid zone 2.  Yeah... I KNOW!  Isn't that cool!  I felt like a complete rockstar!!!  I did that for the next 45 minutes and then dropped the hammer and went into zone 3 for the next 20 min which would be crazy fast for me in a marathon at my ripe old age!  Then cooled down in low zone 2 for the next 10 min.  IT WAS SO FUN!  

Here's the thing... every time I have a workout like this... it opens my eyes to possibilities.  It also reminds me: I love the struggle and the fight and the tears and the pain and the dejection... but I ALSO love these small samplings of success.

Here's to possibilities.  

Thank you for taking the time to read.  I hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

High 5 Sistah Girlfriend!

Breathe...

6 comments:

D said...

You had me until the "Sistah Girlfriend". I'm going to let it go though. This time.

Glad to hear the training is going the way it should. That ALWAYS lifts my spirits.

Marit C-L said...

Way to go Rob! Fantastic job with the workouts...you know the training is tougher than the race - or at least that's what I've heard. You are going to do GREAT come race day! Keep it up!!!

Charisa said...

Ohhhh those days are fun aren't they?! PROGRESS rocks! And we need a pic of your awesome, bright, obnoxious racing shoes!! :)

beth said...

nice work. isn't it nice when your old hard starts to feel manageable?
you go girlfriend!

Anonymous said...

THERE IS ONLY ONE, I SAY ONE, SISTA GIRLFRIEND. AND THAT IS MOI, BROTHA MINE.

Anonymous said...

Them's fightin' words.
MM HM...you heard me.
SH