When I was a young girl, one of my favorite things about the beginning of a school year was a clean notebook, with its crisp white pages just waiting to be filled with notes of my learning experiences.
Today, I still enjoy the promise of empty pages, waiting to be filled. Now, however, those clean pages are those of my training log for the 2011 season. It’s time to start filling them with experiences as this week marked the beginning of the 2011 training season.
It’s not like I have being doing nothing. It’s just that I’ve been working out, not training.
What’s the difference? You reasonably might ask. After all, I’ve been swimming, cycling and running all along. Seems like the same stuff, right?
Well, not exactly. The difference between working out and training (at least for me) is a focus on specific goals. During the offseason, I wake up and do whatever I feel like doing that day. I try to keep a mix of the different disciplines, but I don’t obsess over it and if it doesn’t happen, eh, no biggie. I don’t have to think about any larger plan. I don’t focus on what I need to do to be ready for my “A” priority races. (2011 race calendar can be found here.) My workouts don’t have a purpose beyond keeping my fitness level steady until I’m ready to begin the hours of focused training.
Once training begins, however, each session must serve a purpose, such as endurance, power, speed or recovery. Without this purpose, I’m just working out. And, ultimately, it’s this purpose, this goal-directed behavior that has made endurance sports so fulfilling.
While each phase,week, and workout have specific “mini” goals, I also have overarching goals to guide the entire season. Last year, my goal was simply survival, a.k.a. finish what I started.
Finish my first ultra marathon (50k).
Finish my first Ironman.
Finish my first 50 mile run.
I didn’t have plans much beyond surviving each of these “first” races. So, endurance was my focus for much of the season.
This year, however, I want to do more than survive. I don’t plan on doing any new distances this year. But, I want to do several distances faster. I’m looking for PRs (personal records) this year in:
- Half iron triathlon. My current PR is 5:55:37. I would LOVE to see 5:30-ish.
- Full iron triathlon. I did my first Ironman in 13:33:06. It would be awesome if I saw 12:00:00 when I cross the finish line this year at IMLP.
- 50 mile ultra. I did my first 50 mile run in 10:29. I’m shooting for sub-10 hours this year.
I have to admit that making speed-related goals makes me significantly more nervous than making “survival” goals–even when the distance is as daunting as a 50 mile run, or a 140.6 mile triathlon. Speed hurts. Speed requires precision. Speed requires courage in the face of fear. Speed requires much more suffering to beat the clock.
To find the speed I’m looking for this year, it will be necessary to clearly identify my weaknesses.
My primary limiter is the bike. That bike…oh, that bike.
I’ve got to learn to love it this year. I’ve got to screw on some courage and get in aero this year.
No excuses. No exceptions.
To that end, my BFF and I have been spending LOTS of time together. I’ve been punishing myself on the trainer, and engaged in “Operation Become a Better Cyclist” since October. This “operation” has involved a mix of rides, including climbs, intervals, endurance, tempo and recovery. Last year, I rode only 3 times a week. This year, I’m riding at least 4 times, and frequently 5 times a week. (Much thanks to the tweeps & facebook community who have given me lots of workouts and advice for improving my cycling!)
Another limiter, related to cycling (again), is my ability to run strong off the bike. So, I’ll be incorporating at least two runs off the bike each week. That, along with more time on the bike generally and riding in aero more frequently, should equate to improvements in this area.
As for the 50 miler, the key problem I had last year was that my hamstring went bonkers on me with 25 miles to go (otherwise, I was on target for a slightly sub-10 hour 50 miler). In fact, I’m still paying the price for that day. (I’m icing my leg while I type this.) So, all of my goals, and especially the 50 mile goal, is predicated upon getting this leg completely rehabed and back to 100%. That means I have to take it easy running. I have to keep those damn horses in the barn. But, they are such onery horses and they like to run – a lot.
My leg was on its way to getting better, but I did a 5k race and a 10 mile race in the past few week, and I just wasn’t ready for the speedwork. Please: learn from my mistakes! Take it slow when returning from injury. Otherwise, it’s back to rehab.
Despite this setback with my leg, I’m looking forward to an excellent 2011 season. I’m setting more ambitious goals than I’m comfortable with. I had originally told John that I wanted to go sub-13 hours at IMLP 2011. His response? Why set a goal you already know you can achieve? Dream bigger. So, 12 hours it is.
After all, being comfortable isn’t why I started training and racing in the first place. I was comfortable working out for many years. But, I was never fulfilled. The feelings of accomplishment, strength and joy are worth the sacrifice, discipline and challenge.
So, I’m filling the clean white pages of my training log with challenging goals that I will achieve through plenty of hard work and sweat throughout the months of 2011.
What are your goals for 2011? I’d love to hear them.
I wish all of you endless reserves and fulfilling goals in the 2011. Happy New Year!
