I haven't bounced back from Sunday's crappy ride. Yesterday I was so tired and discouraged I was crying and saying I thought it would be a good idea to quit training and give up IMFL. I haven't looked at my bike since Sunday. Can't stand to think about getting on it. Yesterday I skipped my scheduled 13-mile run and called my coach. She said we'll back off for awhile. She rewrote my schedule for 3-4 day training weeks for a while. This isn't much for Ironman training but it's what I can tolerate. I have never been able, in marathon or triathlon training, to go over 3-4 days a week without breaking down physically, mentally or emotionally. I did my training for ChesapeakeMan 3-4 days a week last summer. My friend Dianne calls me the "Queen of Undertraining." I emphasize rest over training and it always gets me where I want to go.
Today I was scheduled for a 30-mile ride but I still can't look at my bike. So I did yesterday's 13-mile run. Very slow pace, jogging 11 minutes and walking 2, to simulate what I think I can do at IMFL, walking through the aid stations for a 6-hour marathon.
I really was serious about quitting yesterday, for a while. My life would be so much easier without the pressure of Ironman training.
Or.... my training would be so much easier without pressure from the rest of my life.
I don't understand why it can't work like Steve says: if I work 25 hours and train 15 hours, that's 40 hours a week, why is that less doable than a normal full-time job?
I don't know why it's not that simple. Anyone have a clue?
8 comments:
Don't worry about it! If you have gotten by on less than 5-6 days before you will again. I am a huge believer in less is more!
You sound so much like me! It's a sign you need a break. Seriously, just take the next week off completely. Use it to get your life back in order and back into a routine. Reflect. See how you feel. The following week, start doing fun activities that you haven't made time for. Unfortunately, my body had to make me sick to make me realize I needed this.
I can't believe that picnic table below! What is WRONG with people?
I wrote a long comment last night and blogger ate it.
If Steve knows so damn much about Ironman training, why doesn't he do it himself? STOP LISTENING TO NEGATIVITY!
Secondly, 3 hours at work isn't just 3 hours. It's getting clothes ready, getting dressed, putting on makeup, preparing food, travel, etc. - add on 30-60 minutes at each end of a work shift.
Same for training - preparing fluids, checking the bike, etc. Every hour of training probably has another hour or more in prep time.
Learn to say NO! Unless you truly are desperate for the extra money RIGHT NOW, those extra work hours can darn well wait a while.
You're sounding kind of depressed. I'm sorry you're having a rough time!!
It seems to me that most peope do a LOT of goofing off at work. They put in the hours, but consistent working for a whole 7-8 hours? Nah...nope...no...I don't buy it.
Training schedules are just a best guess at what your own particular body needs and can handle. If it exhausts you to the point of break-down, then it's over-training.
You just finished a very hard long bonking or near-bonking bike ride. You need to let your body get some equilibrium back. Emotional ups and downs are going to ride in on the wake of this sort of physical endurance testing.
Not that knowing it's natural makes it more pleasant to wade through - but at least your mind knows to accept it as expected/acceptible, and not time to panic and throw in the towel.
And your mid-life, change-of-life hormones are probably throwing a few monkey wrenches in the mix, too. BELIEVE ME, those can be some nasty-a$$ monkey wrenches.
Don't give up. You can do this. YOU CAN DO THIS. You know you want to, or you wouldn't have started, eh?
YOU CAN FINISH. But not if you give up. Easing back is NOT giving up. It's taking a breather, so you can get back in there, refreshed and rarin'.
YOU CAN DO THIS.
I'm with Nancy, it's not the 25 hours of work or 15 hours of training. It's the prep time that kills you. You deserve the time to train for Ironman. You do. Give it to yourself.
Ellie,
u definitely don't want overtrain. Most ppl overtrain and most often end up burnt out or injure.
Body cannot be force.
I have gone through those crappy ride before...they suck :(
Also, don't forget that in most places the work week is actually 37.5 hours. 25 hours per week is therefore 2/3 of full time. Probably without benefits, too. Is it worth that much to you right now? Maybe instead work full time for a couple months after November?
I agree with Nancy. 25 hours of work has travel time, get ready time, and errands 'while you're out anyway' time.
Training time has prep time, re-scheduled eating time, the training itself, the cleanup shower and 'put away the gear' time, recovery eating time, and the 'rest' time because sometimes you're just too wiped to do anything at all.
Add it up. It's NOT 40 hours.
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