What is IT?

Can you feel it, see it, hear it today?
If you cant, then it doesn't matter anyway
You will never understand it cuz it happens too fast
And it feels so good, its like walking on glass
Its so cool, its so hip, its alright
Its so groovy, its outta sight
You can touch it, smell it, taste it so sweet
But it makes no difference cuz it knocks you off your feet

I fully realize that Marcy will have no idea what that song is. That song is a metal-grunge transition song. The band: Faith No More. The inspiration (to me): the return to high intensity training. It's a feeling that I can't really compare to anything else. Part satisfaction, part desire, part hope, part dread, and a lot of "oh, I can totally kick that person's butt this year!"

As I'm sure you all know, since you hang on my every word and celebrate my every breath (LMAO!!!), I've been cruising through the off season and focusing on running time/distance. I took about 2 months off swimming (yikes!) and rode my bike sporadically at best. But now, it's game on! Go ahead, check the training log. I'll wait...

Okay, I won't wait. Whatever! Anyway, cranking up the intensity up has really got me mentally and physically energized, fueling my inner beast for more. And it has fortified the belief in me that a very healthy off-season (or mid-event rest period, if you don't follow a "season") is incredibly beneficial and supports a great follow-on season (or training cycle). I'm in such a different mindset than this time last year. I was wide-eyed, wondering what I could do for sport and competition, and eager to start, but I didn't notice that I was just training volume and not specifics, and it was dumb determination that propelled me.

So, I guess my advice to new athletes and those approaching a significant break in training cycles is to take a real break, then get things started with some smart structure, and have an idea what your plan will be toward performance peak before your "A" and "B" events. I can't say that I'll make last year's results look like a practice run before the big show, but I think I have a much better handle on what I have to do, and when, as well as how to cycle my training throughout the year.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to do a very high intensity brick to top off the short-course training for the week, and then do a long-ish run tomorrow, then a bike on Saturday. As always, my plan is fluid and can change. Plans are good, but weather and life happens: know how to adjust and keep your training goals in sight.