disclaimer: this is going to sound like a back door brag. Its not. I’m just hoping for some feedback and maybe encouragement. I’m not even sure what I need.
This is my second year training for triathlons. Last year I did the non-WTC vine man as my first IM and went 10:04. This year my goal is to KQ at IMLP.
So far my numbers are all quite a bit better than last year. I’m 5-7% higher watts for the same workouts on the bike. I set a new 5K PR this spring. My swim is coming along at least as well as last year. And yet I somehow don’t feel as fit as I did last year. I look at myself in the mirror and see the same ol’ dude instead of an ass-kicker.
Is this because last year was my first year back to competitive athletics in 15 years and now its not new anymore?
Is it because I still have about 7 lbs to lose to get to race weight?
Maybe the fact that the total mystery of the IM distance is behind me has sapped the motivation a bit?
I’m just not sure, but something isn’t quite right.
I’m 14 weeks out, I want to be super motivated and hit each week hard knowing that its all worth it blah blah, but somehow its all a bit lackluster for me right now. I’m not overtraining. I’m not overly tired. I’m eating well (I may be drinking too many beers still but…) and training hard, but something is just missing.
We all have ebb and flow cycles, so there’s nothing too surprising there. Don’t sweat it. Just keep on your workouts and let the chips fall as they may. Consistency will win the day. I’m a poet and I know it.
Now, if you’ve got something for the fact that I feel COMPLETELY BAKED/TOAST/NUKED/DONE and haven’t really dug myself out of this trench for over a month, talk to me. Wildflower is in a week and a half, and I wanna go fast. I need a life-taper just to get back to some modicum of normalcy. :-/
As I have said when others get desperate and will try anything the ONLY thing left to do is swagger/walk! Move your head back an inch or two,SLOW DOWN,swing your arms and hips and just walk! This takes your weight OFF your knees and lower legs and puts it onto your hips and thighs where it belongs. The worse you feel the MORE you EXAGGERATE the swagger! Your stress level(mental and physical)will drop dramatically.
I look at myself in the mirror and see the same ol’ dude instead of an ass-kicker.
Not many triathlete’s look like a$$-kicker’s and even less long course people do. Look at the long course pro’s - they definitely don’t look like people that can kick a 3 year old girl’s a$$. They are fast, but not an image of an a$$ kicker.
As I have said when others get desperate and will try anything the ONLY thing left to do is swagger/walk! Move your head back an inch or two,SLOW DOWN,swing your arms and hips and just walk! This takes your weight OFF your knees and lower legs and puts it onto your hips and thighs where it belongs. The worse you feel the MORE you EXAGGERATE the swagger! Your stress level(mental and physical)will drop dramatically.
bwahahaha
OP, did you have some off days/weeks during the week? Last year I overdid the training (no rest at all) and felt fried by race season. All my races sucked arse. This year is much, much better with the addition of proper days/weeks off.
So far my numbers are all quite a bit better than last year. I’m 5-7% higher watts for the same workouts on the bike. I set a new 5K PR this spring. My swim is coming along at least as well as last year. And yet I somehow don’t feel as fit as I did last year.
Fortunately for you it’s the objective data that matters
Sometimes it’s day to day doldrums. I see two approaches:
The “I am so greatful I can do this” give thanks zen approach
I am still of the “opinion” that I was the most fit and prepared for my first Ironman 8 years ago. Despite the objective data telling me I’m much fitter and faster - my fitness prior to that race is on a pedestal in my mind.
I believe it to be nothing more than naive romanticism, similar to the feelings you keep for other fond memories from days gone by.
Trust in the objective stuff and stop worrying about what you look like and/or what you “think”. You’re a year down the road and in much better shape - trust in the facts.
Yeah I consistently rest when needed, just came up a ten day period of little to no training (not by choice, but work related travel induced, my one gig for the year) and I always have two days a week that are swim only.
I believe it to be nothing more than naive romanticism, similar to the feelings you keep for other fond memories from days gone by.
Trust in the objective stuff and stop worrying about what you look like and/or what you “think”. You’re a year down the road and in much better shape - trust in the facts.
“There is this guy on the forum, can’t remember his name, Big bird… Snuffulufugous… Beeker… Something like that… Anyway. After 15 years of being a couch potato he jumps off the couch and rocks out a 10:04 at Vineman. He is has been training like a montser all winter. He has improved by 5-7% on the bike, and this spring he ran a new 5K PR… The dude is going to qualify at IMLP… He looks like an ass kicker!!!”
Sounds to me like you need to do less training and more racing. We all train because we enjoy it, but if you train for 3 months or more without a race in between motivation will start to dissappear. Racing is what gives us the motivation train, eek out the last few calories of energy and get up early to train. The two go hand in had and yet so many people just train train train with their goal 6 or 9 months down the line and are surprised when they loose the will to kick it. Get some racing done, the image in the mirror will soon change.
I here that.
Unfortunately the extreme northeast doesn’t offer much in early season tri
Gotta wait till June for anything tri specific.
racing a 10K this weekend though.
Unfortunately the extreme northeast doesn’t offer much in early season tri
There are a couple of early May races in Maine if you are in that part of the northeast
(you can’t get much more northeast than Prince Edward Island…)
PM me if you like
