One lesson from 2006

Triathlon Forum
22

I learned that continuing to run 40-45 miles a week with a cold that won’t go away is a recipe for bronchitis.

23

I learned I still don’t know a lot about a lot of things and discovered that is ok…finally…

24

I learned that I shouldn’t ride too fast over wet railroad tracks.

25

I learned that you need to a have a plan – this plan needs to be flexible but challenging. I learned to make my hard days hard and my light days light. Recovery days are as important as training days. Train with people who will push your limits and avoid training with people who make excuses.

I also learned to avoid Ryan in the draft line.

26

**I learned that when my back hurts after a run it is time for new shoes, even if they haven’t been used for the standard miles. **

Interesting because I learned that shoes are rarely the cause of back problems and when I stopped buying new shoes and dealt with the actual cause, my back not only stopped hurting but I saved a lot of money in shoes.

27

I learned just how little I could train and still remain competitive.

Less is MORE

28

I learned just how important something in my life really is.

29

I learned what its like to have a TIA (mini-stroke) when running. And that when you have one, its best to head straight to the hospital instead of running another two miles.

30

I learned that I don’t need to bust my ass doing lots of high intensity swim intervals, just putting the time in the pool at an endurance pace, is all I need for a great swim split.

I also learned not to stress out if life interferes with my training and I have to skip a work out, it will not harm my fitness or training.

31

  1. Push a little harder on the bike leg, it doesn’t hurt the run split and really helps the time.

  2. Watch out for pedestrians walking along the road facing away from traffic (on the right side). They might suddenly turn left in front of your bike and cause you to slam to the ground.

32

  1. I learned that increasing my miles too fast leads to illness.

  2. Training through an illness isn’t the brightest idea.

  3. Pushing the bike in training really boosts your watts.

  4. Coffee is awesome for training–and work, for that matter.

  5. Training for a spring IM (AZ) sucks in this weather. I definitely hope they change it to the fall.

33

Sleep is AWESOME!

34

I learned that I shouldn’t ride too fast over wet railroad tracks.

Funny. Eight years ago I crashed on wet RR tracks during a century ride precisely because the guy ahead of me in the paceline slowed down way TOO much going over them. If we’d carried a bit more speed I have no doubt we’d have been fine. But he went down, then I had to change my line and my wheel hit the tracks at a bad angle. Naturally, he got up and was fine. My kneecap went straight into a rail and shattered.
.

35

lesson 1: a 46-yr-old body doesn’t bounce back from high-volume weeks the way it did when it was 25… instead it’s a sort of slow-motion crash…
lesson 2: actually this is lesson #22 or so, seems like every few years I have to re-learn the signs and symptoms of overtraining, so next time I can back off and not auger in.
It takes a kind of hard-learned humility.

36

I learned that all those people that told me a 1/2 IM is not all that “bad” are mostly right. I don’t think I’ll ever consider it as being a “long mini” like some think it is but for the average citizen triathlete is totally doable.

I did my first 1/2 IM ever this year after being in triathlon since 1983, in 2007 maybe I’ll learn how to race the distance.

37

I learned that I shouldnt be on my bike for 50 miler, 6 days after an Ironman.

38

I crashed on DRY rr tracks this spring… spring marathon did not happen.

I refuse to ride over them anymore. I unclip, walk over, clip back in.

39

I learned:

  1. In T1, don’t hold your sunglasses in the hand that they are spraying with sunscreen unless you want to ride to Hawi and back in what looks like a scummy fog.

  2. My wife is right … if I really reduce the fats i eat in the two days leading up to a long race and take low low fat nutrition during the race, I will have fewer digestion/cramping issues.

  3. My wife is right. .

Grant

ok, # 3 is nothing new but it is still worth remembering.

40

I learned that it’s foolish to procrastinate getting a theraputic sports massage. I finally got one about four months later than I should have. What relief! My IMFl training and race would have been much more comfortable and successful.

41

I learned - after almost twenty years of marathon / triathlon, but my first year of coached training - that I will never be as fast or good as I want to - but I can always do better than I expect to.

I think I also learned to listen to my coach, but we’ll see how well I stick to that this year!