First some intro thoughts... I'm in this place in training where all I've been doing is training for the training that's coming. Technically my offical half ironman training does not actually start until Feb 27th.... But here is what I've come up with so far. Also remember, my tandem bike is a fixed gear back pedal brake bike... which changes training dynamics.
As read at WORD UP in Peterborough Ontario at The Spill Feb 15 2012
What they don't tell you about ironman training...
Things I've learned in four weeks of training...
People line up to use the YMCA at 5:25am thereby proving I'm not the only insane person alive.
The pool water tastes like other peoples body cream.
Occasionally you'll turn your head to breathe in the water and inhale someone else hair.
Bikini line Razor burn at 5:30am in chlorinated water is a form of mid-evil torture.
Bathing caps are NOT sexy whether they are blue, yellow or purple.
Goggle face lasts four hours at it's worst.
There ain't nothing you can do to hide how cold you feel during the walk from the pool to your towel.
Runs are not the same when you're biking and swimming as well.
Your random leg complaints can't be placed into the blame of just a run. Even if it's day 410. They blend with was that the hills I biked? The lane rope I kicked? The squats and lunges with my 4yo on my back?
Runners and triathletes are very different groups. Runners I think shy away from having to communicate to each other in speedos. Where as triathletes like to compare tan lines.
Changing into long johns and polar fleece from a bath suit seems great until you're hair turns to ice and gives your ears frost bite on the run home from the pool.
Biking is no fun in the winter.
Watching old classic action films while on the bike trainer passes the time but reduces your IQ considerably.
Someone should have taught the blind girl how to shift gears.
No one tells you that the front tire of your bike will be propped up on a milk crate to accustom your tush to the angle of ascent of the hills on your course.
The stubbing of your toes on said milk crate at stupid o'clock will prove more painful than the actual biking with it there.
Bike seats are unforgiving. We're not talking the grade five school yard you stole my soccer ball unforgiving... But the Clint Eastwood coming to shoot your ass kind of unforgiving.
You will remember last Saturdays 90min ride next Tuesday in your calves.
Everyone around you laughs at the way you walk.
Most people think your body will decrease size as you train but in truth you can't seem to fit your new found butt muscles in any of your pants.
They also look funny in all your old lingerie.
The best bike rides end in that moment when your leg refuses to lift over the bike and you start channelling your inner dog to help raise it.
Sex, for the love of god, can wait until after the damn race.... Even if thats eight months away.
You eat, sleep, and poo thoughts of that finish line.
Sometime in the middle of a training run you wonder, if I'm literally tied to a guide for 7+ hours.... What happens if I have to fart?
You spend calculated amounts of money turning your heat up to mimic 30C plus humidity while biking.
A post workout beer never tasted so damn
good.
No matter how intense your workout, how crazy your effort was, nothing hurts quite as much as getting yourself lowered onto the toilet seat.
And nothing is quite as embarrassing as having to call for help to get up.
On your lazy days you use your 4yo as a weight during a workout.
You randomly challenge your 10yo to a plank competition and lose after 7 one minute planks.
You bribe your 13yo to rub your back, feet, shoulders.
The thing you are most thankful for every morning is that your husband makes coffee.
You didn't ever think you could do this... You just wanted to prove someone wrong who thought you couldn't.
Nothing matters if you don't believe in yourself.
Somewhere along the way, you will have to forgive your imperfections and embrace such cosmic chaos as to reverse the spin of the earth.
Somewhere along the way you will need more from yourself than you've ever given, more than you even know is there.
Somewhere in the middle... You'll find a bit of yourself. A little piece of the everything you are worth.
Life doesn't stop for training.
Life doesn't stop while you struggle to place hope.
Life keeps on living and challenges you to live a hundred lifetimes in a day.
Peace to you in running! And beyond!
Things I've learned in four weeks of training...
People line up to use the YMCA at 5:25am thereby proving I'm not the only insane person alive.
The pool water tastes like other peoples body cream.
Occasionally you'll turn your head to breathe in the water and inhale someone else hair.
Bikini line Razor burn at 5:30am in chlorinated water is a form of mid-evil torture.
Bathing caps are NOT sexy whether they are blue, yellow or purple.
Goggle face lasts four hours at it's worst.
There ain't nothing you can do to hide how cold you feel during the walk from the pool to your towel.
Runs are not the same when you're biking and swimming as well.
Your random leg complaints can't be placed into the blame of just a run. Even if it's day 410. They blend with was that the hills I biked? The lane rope I kicked? The squats and lunges with my 4yo on my back?
Runners and triathletes are very different groups. Runners I think shy away from having to communicate to each other in speedos. Where as triathletes like to compare tan lines.
Changing into long johns and polar fleece from a bath suit seems great until you're hair turns to ice and gives your ears frost bite on the run home from the pool.
Biking is no fun in the winter.
Watching old classic action films while on the bike trainer passes the time but reduces your IQ considerably.
Someone should have taught the blind girl how to shift gears.
No one tells you that the front tire of your bike will be propped up on a milk crate to accustom your tush to the angle of ascent of the hills on your course.
The stubbing of your toes on said milk crate at stupid o'clock will prove more painful than the actual biking with it there.
Bike seats are unforgiving. We're not talking the grade five school yard you stole my soccer ball unforgiving... But the Clint Eastwood coming to shoot your ass kind of unforgiving.
You will remember last Saturdays 90min ride next Tuesday in your calves.
Everyone around you laughs at the way you walk.
Most people think your body will decrease size as you train but in truth you can't seem to fit your new found butt muscles in any of your pants.
They also look funny in all your old lingerie.
The best bike rides end in that moment when your leg refuses to lift over the bike and you start channelling your inner dog to help raise it.
Sex, for the love of god, can wait until after the damn race.... Even if thats eight months away.
You eat, sleep, and poo thoughts of that finish line.
Sometime in the middle of a training run you wonder, if I'm literally tied to a guide for 7+ hours.... What happens if I have to fart?
You spend calculated amounts of money turning your heat up to mimic 30C plus humidity while biking.
A post workout beer never tasted so damn
good.
No matter how intense your workout, how crazy your effort was, nothing hurts quite as much as getting yourself lowered onto the toilet seat.
And nothing is quite as embarrassing as having to call for help to get up.
On your lazy days you use your 4yo as a weight during a workout.
You randomly challenge your 10yo to a plank competition and lose after 7 one minute planks.
You bribe your 13yo to rub your back, feet, shoulders.
The thing you are most thankful for every morning is that your husband makes coffee.
You didn't ever think you could do this... You just wanted to prove someone wrong who thought you couldn't.
Nothing matters if you don't believe in yourself.
Somewhere along the way, you will have to forgive your imperfections and embrace such cosmic chaos as to reverse the spin of the earth.
Somewhere along the way you will need more from yourself than you've ever given, more than you even know is there.
Somewhere in the middle... You'll find a bit of yourself. A little piece of the everything you are worth.
Life doesn't stop for training.
Life doesn't stop while you struggle to place hope.
Life keeps on living and challenges you to live a hundred lifetimes in a day.
Peace to you in running! And beyond!
