On February 15, 2012,
in 
I currently have perhaps the lowest amount of running fitness that I’ve had in three or four years. I can literally (and quite sadly) count the number of times I’ve run in 2012 on one hand. While I’ve started working on that, the bottom line is that runs hurt.
My quads hurt and get tired. My heart rate spikes. I’m not really enjoying running right now – because I’m so out of “run shape”. Almost every time I run, I get just a little bit into it, and start having thoughts about stopping.
You know. Thoughts like, “just walk 50 yards.” Or, “I just need to catch my breath.” Many of us fall into this trap. In fact, I suspect it’s thoughts like these that keep lots of folks from ever really getting into shape. They fight with themselves, and eventually just give up. I’m no stranger to these thoughts (as evidenced by my prior writings on the mental aspects of endurance sports).
This morning during my run, the same thing happened. I got about a mile in, and was ready to stop. Only this time I didn’t. Instead of having that internal conversation with myself regarding the merits of walking or not walking, I decided to completely take my mind off of it.
How?
I started counting. Each time my left foot hit, I counted. I counted up to 250 paces, and then started over. I did it until I was done with my 4.5 mile run.
Guess… Read the rest
I’m lazy.
That is a sentence not typically associated with triathletes. Most folks certainly wouldn’t consider endurance athletes as lazy. I don’t sit around on my rear end eating bon-bons every day. Generally, we’re outgoing, highly motivated folks who set aggressive targets and do everything we can to achieve them. Lots of us are considered “Type A”. I probably fit all of those descriptions, and yet I’m lazy.
Allow me to offer some clarification.
I’m lazy when it comes to my swim stroke.
This month I have been swimming quite a lot (of course, comparing this month’s swimming versus prior months – not versus other athletes, as I know some of you are literally fish). The primary focus of many of my efforts has been centered upon stroke technique.
Here’s where I get really lazy. Far too often when I swim I lose focus and concentration. When I lose concentration, my catch gets all sideways. Basically, I over-rotate at the shoulder, and lead my catch with my thumb and index finger, whereas an “ideal” catch leads with the fingertips. I know this. It’s been the bane of my swimming reality for years. I focus on keeping high elbows and leading with my fingertips. Except when I get lazy….which is almost every time I do long sets. And probably every time I race.
I’m sure it’s 100% mental. I need to keep focused during long sets. It’s just so easy to daydream, zone out, think about other things, or just….swim…..and lose concentration. I… Read the rest
Source: socialmediatoday.com
Resolutions. Round about this time of year, folks all over the globe set them. Folks resolve to lose weight. To balance their budget. To exercise more. To be nice to their spouse. To have more of a work-life balance. We all know the drill.
Take the exercise phenomena. From now until mid-February, gyms will be packed. You’ll see tons and tons of folks out walking or running. But eventually, things will taper out. Folks will lose interest, or time will become too short. Work will become too great. Something. It happens every year.
365 days ago, as we entered 2011, I resolved not to make any resolutions. And for the most part, I didn’t.
This year, I decided to take a slightly different approach. I’ve laid out some goals that I will endeavor to accomplish during 2012.
The key difference between goals and a resolution is that resolutions tend to be fairly generic. “I resolve to lose weight.” Okay, buddy. You do that.
Goals are more tangible. They are expectations. To wear by “business hat”, good goals are S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).
I have decided to set ten specific goals for 2012. I fully believe that they are all attainable. Further, I expect that I will accomplish each and every one of them. They will be my measuring stick for the year.
Drum roll, please…..
TriMadness’ 2012 Multisport Goals:
- Obtain a new personal best for an Olympic Distance tri.
About The Best Of 2011
On December 30, 2011,
in Blogs,
by Mauricio
from Mauricio's Triathlon, Running, Fitness, Motivation & Inspiration Blog
This year I have taken to my blog a bit more consistently. This is post No. 51 for 2011. That’s almost one post per week. Not a power blogger by any stretch of the imagination but a steady blogger at that. I have seen the blog’s popularity, measured by “hits” per post steadily increase.
It is no surprise that the post that gathered the most traffic was the one entitled “About Becoming An Ironman“. It accumulated over 2,000 hits in just 48 hours. It was the most shared via twitter and liked on facebook of all posts.
This post takes the reader through my day at the 2011 Louisville Ironman. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, you can do so here.
The second most popular post and one that I feel strongly about is the post entitled “About Being Fit vs. Being Healthy“. I cannot measure its popularity in terms of “hits” because even though it was posted on September 29th, I still get comments via twitter and emails about it. Apparently this post made a few people think about their fitness and health.
A couple of other favorite posts of mine deal with the issue of the “Ironman Tattoo”. I brought the subject up in a post titled “About The Tattoo“, in which I used the subject to make a point… Read the rest
On December 11, 2011,
in …..or “What a Difference A Year Makes”
It was a nice morning for a December trail race. 20F at the start up in Redding, CT. People that had run this race before were looking forward to the single track, water crossings, and mud. New participants were asking a lot of questions about what they’d gotten themselves into. Much bigger crowd compared to years past. But more on that later.
I wrote about this race last year and I’ve had three good years racing at this event. This year, however, not so much.
I didn’t bother wearing my heart rate monitor, as I was instructed to “not race” by my lovely wife. She has a good point with that bit of instruction: My ankle just isn’t quite up to full ‘blasting through trails’ fitness yet, so I never planned on trying to duplicate my efforts from last year. I felt calm and relaxed as we warmed up, and was content to just “run” it and have a great time. However, it wouldn’t have mattered what my original plans were.
Fitness, or lack there-of, really showed. I never felt good….not even at the beginning. The hills were just crushing. Last year, by the first ‘peel off’ into single track, I was amongst the top 5 runners. This year as we headed into the woods I might have been lucky to be in the top 20. I just never got into a groove. It’s a good thing I didn’t wear… Read the rest
It’s been a while since I’ve done a random style post, so I thought I’d toss one out there for this week…
- It’s 11-11-11. That’s cool. I love cool dates like today (09-10-11 was another cool one)
- Today is Veteran’s Day. Frankly, I believe that our veterans (and active duty military) don’t get all the praise they deserve. We literally owe our way of life to the brave souls who have fought for this country. To that, you all have my never-ending respect and thanks.
- I read a very interesting post by Jim Gourley today regarding why he won’t be celebrating today.
- You may have heard of The Wounded Warrior Project. This is a non-profit (actually based here in NE Florida) that serves servicemen and women injured in combat. It’s a spectacular cause, and one I’m proud to have supported numerous times this year.
- I’m holding out on setting up my bike trainer. I want to continue to think that I’ll be able to ride outside, but it’s getting harder and harder to actually believe that.
- I started planking this week…and not the kind where I take a picture of myself lying flat on something and Tweet it out. I must have a pretty weak core, because these things absolutely kill me!
- Rev3 Tri started announcing their AG team for 2012 yesterday. The way they are doing it is pretty cool, yet I could see how it could add to some folks’ stress levels. See, what
We’ve been in the midst of this great American recession for going on five years now, and yet multisport events are seemingly on a growth curve resembling Apple’s sales figures following the release of a new iPhone.
It seems as if new races and race series are popping up everywhere.
WTC has expanded like two horny rabbits in the last three or four years. Rev3 Tri has gone from one race to nine. HITS is coming into the marketplace in 2012. The Challenge series has grown. WTC created the 5150 series (well…”created” is a term used lightly as this series was wrought from acquisition and partnership activity). Countless local races have sprouted all over the country.
Let’s face it, our sport offers a pretty unique value stream. Revenues are seemingly high. Attendance is generally trending up. Membership in USAT is on a growth track. Triathlon couldn’t be subjected to the perils of a downtrodden economy.
Or could it?
While lead news items typically include only announcements of new and exciting races and venues, what gets lost – and perhaps buried – is the fact that race cancellations are not unheard of. Certainly, WTC’s cancellation of the season-ending 5150 race in Clearwater, FL ranks as the biggest cancellation of the year, it’s just the veritable tip of the iceberg.
Many races get canceled. Often they are canceled for weather or permitting issues, but just as frequently they are canceled due to low turnout – as was the Clearwater 5150 race. Just this fall, races such… Read the rest
About Being Fit vs. Being Healthy
On September 29, 2011,
in Blogs,
by Mauricio
from Mauricio's Triathlon, Running, Fitness, Motivation & Inspiration Blog
Of course you’re fit. You swim, bike and/or run for hours and miles at a time. You can out-endure anyone close to you without even trying. Your physique is envied by models everywhere. You can lose weight without even trying and your body fat percentage is the goal of every top professional athlete. Yes sir. You’re fit alright.
But are you healthy?
I have been thinking about this for a while now and even more so after the unfortunate death of a triathlete at the start of Ironman Louisville this year. Of course we’re fit, but are we healthy?
Those of us that got a late start in the sport, have a lot of ground to make up. As for me, I was overweight (198 lbs), in pain from bulging, herniated and ruptured discs. I have had numerous surgeries on my toes and ankle, leaving a constant nagging, if you will, on my lower extremities. Add to that the fact that I have high cholesterol due to family history and the very unhealthy diet that I followed for many a day. In 1988 I had an asthma attack which landed me in the emergency room, at which point my cholesterol was discovered to be over 500; “a walking heart attack” I was told I was.
In 2006 I turned the corner and saw the light. It was there blinding me, much like a train coming at you in a tunnel. I did not want… Read the rest
We triathletes are known to do some strange things. Certainly, we all have some odd habits (see some of them described here). One thing lots of triathletes are accustomed to doing is riding their bike at night.
Be it a ride at oh-dark-thirty in the morning or an after-work ride that goes well beyond dusk, many of us have been there and done that.
I personally enjoy riding my bike when it’s dark. Yes, I know the risks go up when it’s dark….cars can’t see you as well, it’s more difficult to spot road debris, etc. Typically, though, there are fewer folks out on the road, the temperature is more bearable, and I get extremely focused on what I’m doing. The glow from my headlight creates a tunnel-like quality with darkness enveloping me. Rhythm is easier to find. Focus is there.
As much as I enjoy riding at night, I don’t want to get squashed by some soccer mom in her Suburban. I don’t mount a tail light on my bike or attach it to my hydro tail (although that could work pretty well too). Instead, I wear two flashing tail lights on a race belt. The two lights blink at different paces, so I look pretty much like a tacky Christmas tree (just without the green and blue lights). Off the front, I mount a 5 LED headlight in between my aero bars using velcro. I’ve found that this keeps the light tucked away, but in a… Read the rest
Guest post by Coach Barry Baird of Endurance Geeks.
