Good times, bad times

We all need reminding (none more than me, I sometimes think) that not every day can be great, and certainly not better than the last. Training just isn't always linear in an improving pace/speed value tangent. But I do believe firmly that it's important to push hard on those days that you just aren't as fast, or the miles just aren't coming along as easily.

Variables? Well, the fueling, rest, recovery from last workout, and preparation certainly play huge roles. If you have not put (the right) fuel in your body, you can't expect to do as well as you hoped, and probably shouldn't push yourself to attempt your goal. That's just reality: a car doesn't go as fast on no or low-grade gasoline. Neither do athletes. Likewise if you did nothing to come down from your last hard workout and did nothing to come up for the current workout, there is no right to expect excellent results. It may happen, but it will be the exception as opposed to the norm.

Such is the case today for me. I'm not sure the percentages of the above factors, but I know fuel was a huge portion. I drilled this morning (after sleeping less than I would have preferred) in the reserves, and afterwards decided it was far too nice a day to not ride...and run. Now, keep in mind that I plan to do a publicity ride tomorrow morning with a local Pro 1/2 race team, of which a friend of mine is a member. I hope to do the 66 mile, but may do the 35 mile ride.

Anyway, around 2pm I set off on the bike after preparing my "transition area". I was doing pretty well, but I was becoming progressively gassed on the hills. This route has several short, steep hills on the way out, and lots of long shallow hills on the way in. As I found, the return was more taxing for me without appropriate fueling prior. I did okay, but was spent for the run, and my pace was WAY off my norm, by about 1 min/mile. Anyway, the stats:

Bike: 20.92 miles in 1:00:28 @ 20.76mph (on my tri bike)
poky 1:23 trans
Run: 2.4 miles in 17.55 @ 7:28/mile

What did I learn? If I don't prepare, I'm gonna suffer, and I shouldn't give myself a hard time. Just learn from it, press on, and do a better job next time. We will have good days, we will have bad days. It just happens, and none of the people reading my blog have the luxury of tailoring each day around their athletic endeavors, like a pro athlete would. And life sure happens. Often!

Take care, all, and have a great weekend! I'm fitten' to raise up and get my movie on. :-)

In the name of health!

I was contemplating breakfast this morning: Honey Nut Cheerios, with some skim milk, and about 2/3 cup fat free PLAIN yogurt on top. It made me notice (but not quite question) my dedication to eating healthy things on purpose, at the expense of any sort of flavor. Seriously, fat free PLAIN yogurt is something that I would never wish on anyone as a noticeable ingredient. It would be okay as part of a curry dish, or maybe with a lot of additions for taste, but as a prominent flavor...blech. Still, I eat this stuff, and often.

Now, I'm no monk when it comes to food. I will occasionally be seen eating pancakes, or even scrambled eggs with cheese and ham (gasp!). I enjoy some barley sodas in the evening, or a nice wine. I do eat fairly tasty food for dinner often. Truth be told, I LOVE food. As much as or more than any person I know, and I relish rich and (pleasantly) flavorful foods. I guess I just have a weird suffer gene when it come to choosing meals that really don't matter for flavor, but matter a ton for correct carbs, light texture and food weight, low fat content, and overall health. Does that make me weird? Perhaps just dedicated? I do enjoy great food intensely when I get that kind of treat, perhaps more so due to the "suffering". I don't mind so much.

Anyway, yesterday I did take Robin's advice and layed off the calves after work, having only done a swim at lunch. I did hit the roller a little, and just relaxed. Anyway, stats are:

1500yds in 26:34 @ 1:46/100yds

Not bad, but not what it was. And my endurance was off, as my pace suffered in each successive 500yd split. And it was difficult. I felt beat afterwards.

Today was a new day, and I decided on a brick at lunch. The wind was about 14-16 mph, but I decided to do it anyway. Do race directors stop the wind? Uh, no. So, here was the result:

Bike: 14.23 miles in 40:30 @ 21.08mph avg
Trans: leisurely 1:36
Run: 2.4 miles in 16:56 @ 7:04/mile

My pace was off, probably due to the wind, which likely affected my run also. It was weird, though, since I felt like I was hammering on the bike and hitting higher speeds at the key points on the route that I normally monitor. Hmmm. Oh well, I guess it makes me stronger for next time. I can look forward (with tongue firmly in cheek) to swim drills tomorrow. *sigh*