keep it close to real.Ya know... sometimes you just can't write from your heart... but you want to write anyway and you end up editing a whole bunch of CRAP. So here's the thing. This is my happy place. This is where I come to share my experiences in life as they relate to my chosen sport... and that is where it needs to stay. If you've noticed over the last year and a half... the quantity and, in my opinion, quality of my posts have faltered. Ya know... I love writing about what I learn of people, places, and things... as well as myself... while I'm out training and racing. SO... time to refocus!
Take today for example. Here I am trying to figure out how to train... while not really "training"! What the hell is THAT? I don't train to make myself healthy or pretty... I train so that I can race. I train so that I can peel the onion just one more layer. I train b/c I NEED TO! No really... I'm kind of messed up on a daily basis... but if I'm not training.... I'm REALLY messed up. So my quandary is... how do I stay focused if I'm not planning on racing for the remainder of the year? Answer? Next year. Right? I mean... I suppose I could drop all this knowledge my muscles have gained in the last 3 years of participating in this sport right? I could just start over early next year? Does that make ANY sense to anyone? I don't care what's going on in the rest of my life... I'm not starting over. SO... I'm focused on maintaining my base so that when I start into a new cycle early next year... I'll be ready to go. I will take about a month off from anything structured in either November or December... for "deep recovery" as Coach Liz calls it... but other than that... I'm just going to plug along and make it happen as close to 6 days a week as I can. Believe me... everyone will be happy about that.
So today I hit the pool and put in 2,600 meters of quality work. I'm really falling in love with my paddles and leg bands. When I pull with those things... I feel SUPER fast! I'm really enjoying the pool. Kind of like the "padpadpadpad" of my feet when I run... the outside world falls away with each stroke... its calm, fluid, rhythmic, strong, quietquietquietquiet. Ya know... its a common lesson in living meditation... only do exactly what you're doing in that moment. For instance... if you're doing the dishes... ONLY do the dishes. Don't think about what you're going to be doing the second you finish doing the dishes... just do the freakin dishes. So when I'm swimming, biking, or running... that's exactly what I do... I do the dishes. Uh. You know what I mean.
Plans are forming for next year. I'm putting Ironman in my back pocket until 2011. I'll be focusing on short-course in the early season to develop a little more speed. After that I'll have a couple of key 70.3s lined up for late July through August with the ultimate goal of reaching Worlds again... not dislocating my shoulder... and actually being able to truly race it! VERY excited about having a general outline of a plan! Stay tuned... I'll hopefully be traveling for all of this... MN, CA, WA, IL... the list goes on... and I WILL expect free places to stay. Don't worry... I'm skinny and don't take up much space.
That's it for now! Thanks for taking the time to read. Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.
Breathe...
6 comments:
I train for the skinny. Of course, I write that as I sit here eating chocolate cake. What is wrong with me?
When I go to swim laps I say I'm going to dunk my head to clear my mind...works every time.
I so hope Vineman is on that list for next year, because we are doing a tri blogger chick camp reunion for that race...
Kudos to what Molly said! :)
Last year I didn't race - and just trained to basically stay in shape. I think this should be the FUN part of the sport - just working out for the enjoyment of it, knowing that the work you're putting in now will make you stronger and more ready for next year's onslaught. :) Waking up and doing what you FEEL like doing - that is awesome! Relish and enjoy, my friend!
No need to be too deep in your posts... write about what you love and write from the heart. We'll keep reading!
Glad you are enjoying swimming - send some of that good feeling my way.
Let me know when your in Illinois and what event your doing. I'll come cheer you on. If you need a place to stay you can come crash at our house. My son has an extra bed in his room.
Sounds like a great schedule. I'm doing my first 1/2 Ironman in 2011. Exciting times.
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