Thursday, April 1, 2010

Focus on Can.

The lack of training recently has been messing with my head while I'm feeling like my physical fitness is degrading by the minute. I have been keeping busy with yoga and other stuff but realized that if I had any hope of doing Eagleman70.3, even as an aqua velo (assuming that my body lets me do it physically), I need more training focus to succeed at this event (it is about 10 weeks out). A recipe for success probably, at least for me, doesn't include doing no actual training and then nailing the taper (even though tapering is my strength). The concern is that I don't know what I can do vs. what I can't, I don't know if my limiters are frequency or intensity, and I don't know how I will feel any given day as is almost seems random. I may also just have a limited time that I'll even be feeling OK before the shot that I got in my hip wears out.

I decided I need to focus on what I can do, not on what I can't. Red says in Shawshank, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." While dying may be a bit of a stretch, I've decided to start living more and see what happens. I had stopped having BikeMike craft the workouts for and coach me a while ago due to my injury but we restarted together today with a different set of objectives:

  • I'm 95% doing Eagleman as an aqua velo (assuming I can ride effectively).
  • I'd like to still be able to give the NYC Tri in July a shot. Any running attempts would be deferred until it matters for this race(this could give my body a chance at recover if rest has a play here). 10k can be walked and as it is much shorter than a 1/2 mary there is more of a shot for success.
  • I'll probably mix in a few long rides (Montauk Century anyone?) here and there. Perhaps a field trip up to Lake Placid to ride the IMLP course for a weekend in May with Larry's FiremanIronman camp would help me physically and mentally.
  • Ultimately I want to do more formal cycling events but I'm not at the point where I feel I could be competitive even at the lowest levels so I need to build up my cycling skills to get at least think I've gotten close to that point.
  • I haven't seen any issue riding long yet and will keep more on one of my road bikes rather than my tri bike.
  • A short term goal for this year, assuming I'm healthy, is to be able to ride with any of the local organized faster cycle groups. If I can't hang with them, then most racing is beyond my capability. Some groups I have no issue hanging with now but I want to move up the food chain while gradually adding more difficult terrain.

The biggest challenge is I have no idea of what will hurt and what won't. It may turn into a constant reassessment on a workout by workout plan. BikeMike's coaching agility may be challenged probably like he has never been challenged before. Can you say "high maintenance Rock Star?" I might even have to really listen to my body for a change rather than yelling at it to shut up and suck it up.

It was good to look at TrainingPeaks and see my weekly workout plan populated. It was good doing 2x20 on the trainer L3 as a test the other night. It was good to see the weather is supposed to be good this weekend and I have two rides to get done.

It is good to focus on can, not can't.

7 comments:

Diane said...

Nice post and great attitude. It's good to focus on what we can do, not what we cant't. And since you don't know until you try, might as well give it your best shot.

Good Luck. Take Care.

KC (my 140 point 6 mile journey) said...

Keep up the positive attitude! Just take on training day at a time. Do what you can do today and then see how you feel the next day and on and on. In other words, i guess just don't try to look too far ahead...it will stress you out. I'm sending good vibes your way and hope that shot keeps last ing you for a good while.

Tri Mommy said...

This morning, I was thinking about this very thing - that a lot of times people focus on what they can't do and we really need to get ourselves thinking about what we CAN do. Keep up the positive thinking and I'm sending good thoughts!

Adam Culp (Crazy Floridian) said...

I think you are on the right track. Sounds like you may need to put in a week or two while closely listening to your body. Then based on how you feel after that, make a plan focusing on CAN.

Good luck.

Anonymous said...

You are right, focus on what you can do and not what you can't. You may have to test things out and push a little bit to figure out what you can or how much to do. Keep moving forward. You are doing a great job.

Runner Leana said...

The aqua velo sounds like a good plan. Best of luck with training for it. Definitely seems like you have the right mindset happening. Best of luck with the training!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

Great post, and you're so right. I'm really working on this mental part of the sport too :)