Last year I completed most of it - a hundred and ten miles. We had to forfeit the middle thirty miles due to time constraints. It was frustrating at the time knowing that I wouldn’t have full bragging rights, but those thirty miles are brutal. BRUUUU-TAAAHHL. They’re across some undulating hills next to Utah Lake, and subject to nasty cross-winds. I was actually just fine not having to complete that part. The rest of the ride was still challenging, and I conquered what I knew was going to be my nemesis - the Eureka climb.
To be honest, I’d be fine completing the same amount and the same portions of the course this year. Regardless of if I do the same 110 or the full 140, it’s going to be that much tougher this year because I’m not in the same shape coming into the training season that I was last year.
Last year at this time I was training to run a half marathon. I was a on fairly regimented schedule, completing weekly “long” runs and doing a ton of hill running. I was also teaching spin classes twice a week, so my butt muscles, the tender sit-bone parts, were toughened up.
After the half-marathon in March, I turned more attention to cycling, replacing my weekly long runs with long rides, the longest of which was 80 miles - down to Long Beach and back.
This year, I haven’t been teaching spin for six months. The last time I was on a bike was in September. My longest run has been a little over four miles -mostly due to necessity while I rehabbed my busted performis muscle. I’ve also gained some weight, which I’m working on with both my regular physician and a nutritionist. In other words, there’s not a lot of logic behind why the pounds have decided to pack themselves on, and they’re stubbornly resisting coming off.
There are four months to get ready, and I’m going to need every single one of those days.
My mantra is now, “I’m in training.” It applies for foods I know I shouldn’t have (or have as much of as I’d like). It applies for when I want to stay up late to watch the outcome of a particular Olympics event. It applies for when i want to sleep in on a Saturday morning instead of getting in another workout. It applies for wanting to skip doing some pushups when I come in for a run.
I’m in training.
The cool thing about this mantra is the multiple layers of meaning it has.
I’m training to be more fit, both emotionally, mentally and physically. I’m in training to be a better me.
What are you training for?
Two things: First of all, I love that mantra. If it's okay, I'm going to adopt it. I've gotten a little lax with my training/discipline.
ReplyDeleteAnd second, you crack me up. You go for weeks without posting, so I stop checking, then I check and walaa, there are 2, 3, 4 posts!
Same here---I just found these posts. Thanks for writing about this. I'm also training (not coincidentally) for the Huntsman 140!
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing long runs or rides yet, just the spin classes at the gym and strength and endurance training with Derek, plus walking/jogging with Jason at the lake. Do you have any suggestions for getting up to a good solid jogging or running pace and staying there?
I'm in training ... to be your BFF!
ReplyDelete