My iron journey this week is slow going! So, I'm in the second week of experimenting with orientation for Trifuel, and its going fine. Just that the "iron" I've pushed most recently has been the ice chopper. I saw my driveway just in time to have it snow and blow about 3-4 foot drifts across it and my sidewalk again.
"nuff said- well except that I've not started my snowblower all winter and I doubt it wants to start today. This is not good. Once again weighlifting could take on a different form today. Kids are two hours delayed and yet my teenager is at his dad's so that's no help to me!
The mind is the biggest factor in training there's no doubt. For the last two weeks I've done an easy run in the evening as a second workout on two different days. I haven't preferred to run late in the day for about 20 years! My knees and head just feel better doing that early in the day. I could bike late, lift late, swim late(that's just a nuisance late in the day) but not run- or so I had my mind made up.
My mind set has changed to - if that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do. It has felt great actually!
I'm off to set my mind on clearing the driveway and then hitting the bike right now! I'll let you know how it goes!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Change for Change
Following last week I'm up on both the consistency and quality scale. The change? A little research into a new program. A tri friend has been asking if I have a plan yet, meaning am I following a specific training plan to ready for the Ironman.
Well, the first time he asked I laughed. It was still almost 12 months from the Ironman. Although I was on an adrenaline high from signing up- new projects have that affect on me- I was thinking, really I'd peak too soon and other than base building or offseason training on a specific sport or strengthening muscles and connective tissue with weight training - I think I want to avoid getting too specific so I am not stale down the road in a few months.
Well, a month and a half later than same question has me thinking more about just when I am going to commit to a program. So I've looked at Gale B's book on tri training plans from one friend, and checked into Trifuel.com from another. I haven't given up on the idea of hiring a coach for more specific help but find that my schedule doesn't allow a lot of interaction with a coach anyway.
What I'm doing this week is trying on a 36 week program from trifuel. The last three years of training in zones has taught me that my HR zones are not going to change drastically so I know and can retest myself easily enough. The most refreshing thing about following this program is so simple. I've shifted activities and days and so everything feels different!
Try this! If you usually do this or that or don't because of your schedule, shift everything by a day and see what happens. I have time to play- I have more than 36 weeks so I'm not officially starting, I can try this on- and unless you're training for something coming up soon, so can you!
I basically did my long bike on a day that was my day off, did my long run on the next day and then a recovery on a day that was a recovery run. Today for instance, instead of going to the pool, I'm off to the trainer for a bike and then possibly a short run. If I am out of time before an appt. I'll split them up and do the short run later.
It is the same activities but it's like taking the backroads to a destination you go all the time. The scenery is different. I don't have that 'this is how I'm going to feel at this mark' ho-hum. It's great for the mental work!
Try to shift your schedule by a day or go to a group class you never attend. Try taking a day off in the middle of the week and taking advantage of your weekend days when you naturally have more energy anyway to get in more quality exercise.
Change takes change!
Well, the first time he asked I laughed. It was still almost 12 months from the Ironman. Although I was on an adrenaline high from signing up- new projects have that affect on me- I was thinking, really I'd peak too soon and other than base building or offseason training on a specific sport or strengthening muscles and connective tissue with weight training - I think I want to avoid getting too specific so I am not stale down the road in a few months.
Well, a month and a half later than same question has me thinking more about just when I am going to commit to a program. So I've looked at Gale B's book on tri training plans from one friend, and checked into Trifuel.com from another. I haven't given up on the idea of hiring a coach for more specific help but find that my schedule doesn't allow a lot of interaction with a coach anyway.
What I'm doing this week is trying on a 36 week program from trifuel. The last three years of training in zones has taught me that my HR zones are not going to change drastically so I know and can retest myself easily enough. The most refreshing thing about following this program is so simple. I've shifted activities and days and so everything feels different!
Try this! If you usually do this or that or don't because of your schedule, shift everything by a day and see what happens. I have time to play- I have more than 36 weeks so I'm not officially starting, I can try this on- and unless you're training for something coming up soon, so can you!
I basically did my long bike on a day that was my day off, did my long run on the next day and then a recovery on a day that was a recovery run. Today for instance, instead of going to the pool, I'm off to the trainer for a bike and then possibly a short run. If I am out of time before an appt. I'll split them up and do the short run later.
It is the same activities but it's like taking the backroads to a destination you go all the time. The scenery is different. I don't have that 'this is how I'm going to feel at this mark' ho-hum. It's great for the mental work!
Try to shift your schedule by a day or go to a group class you never attend. Try taking a day off in the middle of the week and taking advantage of your weekend days when you naturally have more energy anyway to get in more quality exercise.
Change takes change!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Nine days and hit a wall?!?!
I'm only nine days into 2010, granted I've got almost 10 1/2 months to get into Ironman shape, but I've already fallen off my grand plan. Where many of the athletes that fill Triathlete magazine are training in warm sunny Arizona and or will look forward to winter days that thaw in Boulder, here in blissful Iowa its been windchills below zero, 2 days of missed school.
Specific workouts get blasted from ideal into second best due to early checks on the computer and the phone to handle cancellations, reschedules, and trainers unable to get where they need to be. Unadvised travel cramps my chances to get things done when they need to fit into my schedule to allow for workouts to happen.
So my goal- of two lifts, two runs, three swims, and three bikes a week with the key workouts being a long bike on Sunday, long run on Wednesday and long Swim on Friday ? In terms of batting averages this week I'm planning to get the long bike today- that will put me at 6/10.
Must do better next week! Now if my nutrition side of things had been stellar perhaps that would be a wash. Not so much. I had meetings, ate food that was OK but not best for me for goals and too high in sodium and fat to feel good about it. Unfortunately my body and face are like a mirror into my dinner plate and I see and feel it immediately if it wasn't a good choice.
The good news- its supposed to be in double digits tomorrow (positive) and the holiday colored peanut m&m's are gone. Moving on !! Temptation today- Dusty's birthday. A little bit of chocolate frosting after a good meal is the goal. Life's all about the frosting!
Specific workouts get blasted from ideal into second best due to early checks on the computer and the phone to handle cancellations, reschedules, and trainers unable to get where they need to be. Unadvised travel cramps my chances to get things done when they need to fit into my schedule to allow for workouts to happen.
So my goal- of two lifts, two runs, three swims, and three bikes a week with the key workouts being a long bike on Sunday, long run on Wednesday and long Swim on Friday ? In terms of batting averages this week I'm planning to get the long bike today- that will put me at 6/10.
Must do better next week! Now if my nutrition side of things had been stellar perhaps that would be a wash. Not so much. I had meetings, ate food that was OK but not best for me for goals and too high in sodium and fat to feel good about it. Unfortunately my body and face are like a mirror into my dinner plate and I see and feel it immediately if it wasn't a good choice.
The good news- its supposed to be in double digits tomorrow (positive) and the holiday colored peanut m&m's are gone. Moving on !! Temptation today- Dusty's birthday. A little bit of chocolate frosting after a good meal is the goal. Life's all about the frosting!
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