CommentaryTriathlon Training Update - 3 days to go and still struggling
I felt like my old new self, finally. (By "old new self" I mean the new version of me that enjoys and was getting good at endurance sports like swimming, as opposed to my old self who hated such things. My old new self was me slicing through the water, swimming 1:20 100-yarders without as much as getting winded. That's the guy that apparently died this week, for I've yet to find him, instead floundering and gasping and such.)
Unfortunately, that old new self only lasted about 100 yards, maybe 200, before I was stopping to take a step to catch my breath and slowing down and, quite honestly, giving up.
To my credit -- and apparently I'm giving myself credit now, how lame is that? -- I did more today than I planned to. I told Katie last night that I was only going to swim a couple of 100-yard sets, then bust out a 300-yarder since that's what the race will be on Sunday, then sprint a couple more 100-yarders, then pack it in. Instead, I swam 100 yards, then actually did 125 yards' worth of drills with the group, then swam a 300-yard set, then a 200-yard set, then....actually, I think that might have been it.
Something like that. I don't remember exactly. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't much, and I actually got back to the house before Katie left for work, which never happens.
When I got home, I did a little work....then I hit up Lowe's Foods for bananas, oatmeal, yogurt, OJ, and bagels, and ate a huge breakfast. That might be part of my problem, honestly. I haven't been eating great breakfasts lately, and I'm tired of fast food. Last night at our couples' group, I was actually craving salad and the healthy parts of chicken pot pie. So my diet might have been playing a bigger role in this plateau I hit this week than I originally thought.
We'll see. I'm going to try to eat well through Sunday, try to get a really good night's sleep tonight, and just run an easy 5K tomorrow morning. Then I'll probably try to grab a nap sometime during the day between writing sessions and interviews -- had an awesome new Lighthouse Project idea today! -- and then go ride the WAC bike course with Brian at some point.
Three days, baby. I can't wait. I'm honestly not stressing at all about this little wall I've hit. I'm sure that with a little rest and a little better food, I'll be in fine shape on Sunday. That hour goal? That podium finish? I'm less certain about that. But I'm sure I'll be able to go hard, and there's no doubt it's gonna be a blast.
See you on the road tomorrow!
Reader Comments (1)
Excellent article on figuring out if you're over tired, or something else when facing a workout...http://tinyurl.com/yldausg. Good luck in the race. I've got one myself tomorrow.