I’m a little over 25 weeks out from Lake Placid Ironman. During this early phase of base training, along with the training I did in preparation for the HIM Bassman in October, I’ve noticed several changes in my life. I thought I’d share some. Maybe some of you can relate?
Observation #1: Positive Correlations
Most athletes preparing for an Ironman expect that the longer the race distance, the longer the training times and miles. What I didn’t account for was the fact that those training distances aren’t the only times that increase. While the training plan may have anywhere from 10 to 20 hours of workouts for the week, the ironman athlete must also account for other increases in time spent doing training-related tasks. For example, there is a strong, direct, positive correlation between training time and loads of laundry, grocery bills and time spent preparing food. It seems impossible that two people can dirty that many pieces of clothing, and eat that much food without becoming morbidly obese. Yet, somehow, the laundry basket is always full, and we are losing weight.
Observation #2: The Pack Mule Effect
Triathletes know that the sport requires a considerable amount of gear. I am accustomed to the girth of my transition bag at races, which one race volunteer said looked like a “rocket launcher.” I knew that about race day, but every day? Not so much. As a direct result of my Ironman training “needs,” I leave the house each morning saddled down like a pack mule with at least two different gym bags (separated by sport), containers of food, at least two different pairs of shoes, and a bag full of “recovery” items such as KT Tape, compression socks, ice pack, heating pad, and Alieve. As of late, I’ve also been bringing my foam roller with me everywhere I go.
Observation #3: Chocolate milk is gourmet.
Best practices for post-workout recovery dictate that athletes need to consume a mix of carbohydrates and protein within 30 minutes of finishing their workout. When we first started training, we used a special recovery drink that cost us a small fortune. Then, we started talking to some seasoned triathletes who said that chocolate milk is a perfect post-workout recovery choice. So, we are now saving about $90 a month, and the best part: Chocolate milk is like a gourmet dessert when the rest of your nutrition plan strictly limits sweets. It’s a little cup of manna straight from the triathlon gods.
Observation #4: Salads You Can Bench Press
John and I have shifted our diet to include more servings of vegetables and fruits. While we don’t neglect proteins and whole grains, we have noticed that the increase in vegetables and fruits has a very positive effect on our overall feelings of well-being and energy levels. The issue with vegetables and fruit, however, is that you need a lot of them to satisfy the calorie deficit from training. So, we prepare salads that weigh more than the medicine balls we use for our core routine.
Observation #5: How far is that in relation to an Ironman?
As some of you already know, the Ironman is a total of 140.6 miles. I have, as of late, begun to compare all distances that I travel in relationship to this 140.6 mile goal. For example, my round trip work commute is almost as far as the bike. Our favorite bike shop is about a marathon away. While the distance to the gym is just an Ironman swim away.
Observation #6: Looking out for hills
Lake Placid’s course has plenty of elevation change, which I noted in a previous post. The problem for John and I is the overwhelming lack of elevation change in New Jersey. So, whenever I am driving anywhere, I actively seek hills for training. Recently, I went to a colleague’s for a party, and she lives in a very hilly area outside of Philadelphia. I found myself wishing I had brought my bike to ride some of these hills before the party.
Observation #7: Food shopping and long bike rides are hot dates
Spare time is increasingly fleeting as each week of our training plans ticks by. So, John and I have gotten creative about spending time together. The past several weekends have included long Saturday morning bike rides, during which we get to check out the sexiness of each other’s back sides as we trade lead. Then, we spend Saturday night cruising the aisles of our local grocery store, sharing our deepest thoughts and dreams about how great those homemade black bean veggie burgers will be. Sometimes, in the excitement of the moment, we buy whole wheat pizza crust and giggle about how “bad” we are being. You just can’t manufacture bonding like that.
I wonder what new revelations the next 25 weeks will bring?
______________________________________________________________
Support Academic Endurance!
Throughout 2010, I’m training and racing for the Iron Scholarship Fund, which will reward academic endurance for students who are economically disadvantaged. My goal is to raise $5,000. So far, I’ve raised $350.00. Find out how you can support The Iron Scholarship Fund, just click https://www.runningalife.com/?page_id=374.
