I've been reading this book to help me get the best out of my training time as I work towards the half ironman in September. Some of the information is really confusing with "lactate thresholds", "anaerobic vs. aerobic workouts", "periodization in training", etc. But one thing Joe says jumped right out at me. The chapter discusses fitness and explains that increasing your fitness takes years. That's right, years. I'll come back to that in a minute.
Joe also talks about maintaining one's fitness level. This is the validation part. You know how when you're less than fit, and you see that guy or girl running along the path and you feel jealous? "Oh look, it's easy for them to run like that while I'm walking here, huffing and puffing." You are correct! It IS easy for them because they have probably been running like that for years. It doesn't mean they are not working hard. But their lungs, heart and muscles are so used to it that it doesn't hurt and probably feels really good to them.
Don't despair. I have improved my fitness from years back when I gazed with longing at the kids playing on the monkey bars and those first few laps in the pool. I'm learning about the "Triathletes Triangle" measuring Endurance, Force and Speed. It got me to thinking about how one goes from A to B. My B is the quest for fitness, the goals I set for myself. My B used to be an hourlong walk or 500 meters in the pool. But it keeps moving out on me. In 2008 my B is 35 mile bike rides to work and "bricks" - bike/run workouts stacked on the weekends.
What is your B? It could be as simple as taking a hike or deciding to move around a little more. It could be taking a little bike ride with the kids or getting your heart rate up with a swim at the beach. It doesn't matter. It's a personal decision. The good news is that even though it may take a long time, even years, each year it will be a easier to do that activity and hopefully that will encourage you to go a little farther or try something new. Don't stop.
I never imagined I would attempt a half ironman distance triathlon. 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. I'm scared. But my training rides have shown me my speed is up and my runs still feel great. I'm smiling at the end of a 10k and my mental check "can I do that again?" tells me "yes, I can." There are about 7 weeks left to go before the half. I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Validation and What's Your "B"?
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I can tell you exactly what my B is, and it's totally kicking my ass right now. For years I've gone to an aerobics class at the YMCA on Tuesday at 4:30. It's a group of regulars, the same people every Tuesday for, like, five years. A month ago the class got changed into a "boot camp" class with a new teacher. Well I'm a creature of habit: I go to class at the Y on Tuesdays at 4:30. So now I'm going to boot camp. I hate it. I hate the music, I hate the teacher, I hate everything about it. It's too hard and the teacher is mean. It's not fun at all. It makes me feel old, fat, ungainly, and stupid. But I have gone to it four times. I try to talk myself out of it every time but the Tuesday habit just will not let go. I am so sore right now I don't think I could lift Celie. I'm pretty sure I'm the oldest person in the class. And many of the attendees are guys (unlike most Y classes). I am the worst person in the class, without question. But I figure I'm still doing better than if I didn't go. There are exercises I've never seen before, things I didn't think the human body could do -- like lying on your back with heels on paper plates, lifting up your butt and then bending both your knees and straightening, repeatedly. I did that ONCE and collapsed.
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