Trains, Travels

I can be stubborn, very stubborn in fact. Often it can take a while for a message to get through to me. Despite all of this I’ve (so far) managed to take today off as a rest day. You see it’s been 21 days of training now, averaging 4-5 hours a day in that time and those that fell short of that number used intensity to make up for it. The joys (torture) of Yoga have been putting extra strain on muscles all over the place. Sleep has become a lot easier, a lot heavier and despite regular 8 hour nights I never feel I get enough. Then there’s the motivation factor which is usually pretty big for me. This morning the thought of another 3 or 4 hour ride just didn’t appeal at all!

It’s very hard to accept rest as part of the program. I’m very driven in what I do and looking to keep progressing like anyone chasing Hawaii slots and 9 hour Ironmans. When I got up this morning the thought that I could either train as normal or have a rest day was in the back of my mind. This is a very tricky decision to make, potentially I could be being lazy. For me to make it almost certainly involves some kind of bargaining. If I take today off I’ll absolutely flog myself up Trees Road tomorrow (accidentally discovered 20% plus road)! Even then am I just being weak by skipping out on training? I hadn’t scheduled this!

There was a huge mental battle lying ahead of me for the next couple of hours. Chances were it would culminate in me either getting out on a ride or deciding it was too late and resigning myself to not training. All of this was diverted by one simple question from my landlady – “What’re your plans for today?”. I admitted that I’d not decided and was considering a rest day as I was tired and had trained for the past three weeks. When she said then I should take a day off that was it. External validation of the position, qualified or not, was good enough for me. Commenting how I’d yet to visit the beaches pretty much cemented the issue. After all living five minutes from the beach and not having stepped foot on it is a cardinal sin!

Confession finished the plan for my penance was set. No training today. Instead a long walk along the beach with breaks for coffee, some brekkie and probably a bit of cake on the return leg. I’m happy to say I’m now sitting at home, penance completed. I walked further than planned and possibly had a little more cake than planned too! Plenty of coffee, though I now have to wonder how I ever grew to have a fondness for Cappuccinos. I vaguely recall having a very high caffeine intake at the time and switching to Capps as a way to handle more coffee because of their milder taste! I am back on the hard stuff though, if it’s not black it’s not going to work. It’s been a good break, but even now I’m fighting an urge to go and do just a light jog, or there is a yoga class at 5! Instead once this is posted I’m going to have a lie down and possibly a nap!

In fact that rest is pretty appealing so I’m motivated to get this done! Fortunately my weekend was uneventful, more of the same. Read the last two posts and you’ll have a pretty good idea how it went! Training and a few signs I needed more time to recover. At the same time there were signs that my fitness is really taking shape too so I can’t be disappointed. I’m feeling I’ve got myself to the point where I’m ready to really start the training I need to progress. The next 7 days are going to be a big week now, the plan is to get a lot done before I fly out to New Zealand. Not that things get easier there! My first week I’ll keep training up as usual probably with more of a bike emphasis. Then it’s Epic Camp time and I plan to push myself hard and see what happens! After that I might allow myself a rest day again!

(I am thinking I’ll flog myself up Trees Road tomorrow. Not to make up for resting, just now that I think about it…)

So I’d just finished my 5K swim set, once again ‘Swimming with the Celebrities’ as Rebekah Keat was in the pool. I’m pretty tired, today hasn’t been the best of training days and there it is, the first doubt of 2009. Training is such a tenuous thing. Here I am approaching the end of another week and still a couple of months till the next big race, but am I doing the right thing? Have I done enough intensity? Too much? Should I have dropped the easy bike today or the easy run the other day? Do I look skinnier in the mirror or am I eating too much?! No, really that one as well.

I blame the internet! Sometimes I should just stay away from it. It has a habit of putting questions in your mind, especially when you see discussion on what it takes… Much of that 5K swim was spent alternating between thoughts about technique and how annoying it is to see time goals you’ve comfortably achieved listed as all you need to do to go to Hawaii… Depends on your races I say and clearly I haven’t gone to the right ones! But I don’t want to come across as bitter, I’m not. It’s not supposed to be easy and the Hawaii goal comes on the path to the 9 hour mark. Just got to have faith that if I stick with the plan all of that will come.

Speaking of faith I went to my fourth Yoga class today. For me Yoga is primarily about getting in a bit of a core workout and working on flexibility. Possibly a few of you know my views on the spiritual side of this yoga thing. In fact I am sure I’ve said to at least one person that I didn’t want to go to yoga classes with any of that spiritual crap in. I would like to recant this position. I haven’t had a new age awakening, but I can see the value in playing along with this side of things. It may just be me mellowing out with the laid back Gold Coast lifestyle I mean it’s hard to get stressed when the skies are blue and it’s sunny as.

Practically what this means is I know where my third eye is (forehead thank you). I am not phased by being told to focus on any of my Chakras though I don’t have a clue what that really are. I have even finished a session meditating on my Heart Chakra. Admittedly I got it wrong at first, but who knew it would have a green smoke! I think having watched Iron Man the day before I just had that Arc Generator power source in mind. But hey, I can imagine a tree in verdant green fields if that’s what it’s actually supposed to be. I could go on about the sound of Om or some interesting breathing practices, but let’s leave it here. I kind of like it for being so totally outside what I’d normally do or accept and it’s very relaxing. I also did think those incense stick things would be great for clearing the occasional funky smell in my room after major workouts!

Whilst doubts creep in the training week’s been pretty good so far. Been a bit more of a loner the past couple of days, but getting in some useful sessions all the same. I finally answered a question from last year – can I run to The Spit? Wednesday being long run day was my opportunity to finally solve this mystery. It was sunny so another opportunity to run topless and save the washing! Heading North means going through the touristy hell hole that is Surfers Paradise. Despite this I donned the knee high compression socks because my right ankle has developed a twinge. Worrying me enough that I was happy to run about in knee high socks through the most crowded section of Gold Coast beach front!

The Spit sticks out at the northern end of the Coast. A lot of people ride out there. It’s a bit busy to get there, but the last section is good for doing short interval work. Recently it’s been a little overwhelmed with Crickets as last year’s weather made for perfect breeding conditions. What I hadn’t realised is that between the road and the beach is a large area of packed dirt trails with lots of undulation. Finding this was my reward for dodging tourists from Surfers to the end of Main beach. I ended up going a little longer than planned just to confirm you really could get all the way to the end. This also leads me towards an answer to another question I’ve had – can you run from The Spit to Point Danger? My next long run may well head South in search of the answer!

And honestly that’s been the highlight of the past few days. I mean I did say the life of an athlete can be pretty boring! I could mention having knocked out two 5K swim sessions this week and finding both of them very enjoyable too! That’s pretty pleasing and along with a bit of intensity in my swim work and my new love for paddles is giving me some hope for improvements there. The ankle niggle is concerning and I’ve been here before. Stretching, rollers and massage are the answer and just be sure not to develop it into an injury.

From here on it’s a case of rinse and repeat until I get to New Zealand. I have some plans for scoring extra points on Epic Camp this time. Assuming they follow a similar scheme to last camp, but perhaps I shouldn’t let these things on.

No sharks! Another time for them. This was inspired by some massage table conversation shortly before we got to work on my ITBs and quads. From that point on it was mostly just swearing and pain induced hysterics. Don’t think I have ever had quite so painful a massage! Did the trick though. Anyway the conversation was how boring just being an athlete can be.

My masseur, Pete, is also a training partner and for the past few weeks has been on summer holiday from his main job of teaching. He’s getting to live the full-time athlete life style for a few weeks, but is already looking forward to having more variety in his life again. I had to agree to an extent it’s true, every day it’s get out there train, eat, rest, train some more and then sleep. It’s a good job I love this stuff! OK and to be honest it’s still way more fun than a real job! So anyway here’s the last couple of days of my life dumped onto the web for everyone to ‘enjoy’.

Monday is a day for all 3 sports. I wake fairly early and am pretty hungry already. I’d decided on an easy ride to start the day and not too long so have the luxury of a proper breakfast before I head out. I also waste some time on the internet meaning I end up heading out about 30 minutes later than planned. No problem really except I’ve agreed to meet Pete at the pool at midday so I’m cutting into my recovery time. I ride South down the beaches at a pretty cruisey pace, I had planned to go easy, maybe this is a bit too far though! Still get back and this week the rule is a 30 minute run off the bike. So I set off along the beach front but really reigning in the pace. There’s been talk of doing some intervals in the arvo. I secretly hope Pete might not be up to it!

I have managed to get the first round of training done allowing me 1 hour to eat and get ready for the next session. Plenty of time especially as I don’t waste any of it on the Internet. Back on the bike for the short ride over to the pool and I’m not late. Miami Pool can be a bit like ‘Swimming with the Stars’, the other day Emma Snowshill and Courtney Atkinson were there. Pete tells me Rebekah Keat is in the lane next to ours. Admittedly he told me that the day before and it turned out to be Emma Snowshill so I’m not entirely trusting. To give him credit though he was right. Swimming with Pete is doing me some good, making me work through some intervals and introduced me to the fun of paddles. 3.7km later and were done. Plans are made to meet later for that interval run and then I get my much needed massage.

Having 3 hours to spare I take the opportunity to cook up a load of pasta for the next few days lunches. Eat loads right then, but make sure it’s out of the way before the run session. Then waste some time on the Internet! Ride over to Pete’s gym and get changed for the run. One of the advantages of a hot, sunny beach environment is you can go run in just shorts. I’m mainly concerned with the savings in washing, nothing to do with improving the tan or just showing off. Besides I’ve opted to wear compression socks so it’s not my greatest look.

Pete wants to do 6 sets of 3 minutes on at 3:30 minute kilometre pace with 2 minutes recovery. The first one doesn’t feel as bad as I thought it would, in fact this should be fine. By the time we get to the sixth the pace had clearly dropped a little and both of us are getting stomach cramps! No vomiting though which has got to be a good thing. We jog back and discuss how good the scenery is along the coast. There are times you have to appreciate beach culture and how it involves so little clothing! My day was finished with the previously mentioned painful massage.

Today my plan was a nice long ride. Seven hours going down through Murwillumbah, Mooball, into Brunswick Heads and then back up the coastline. The weather was nice, a little cloudy in places, but warm. I woke up feeling hungry again, but with a long ride needed to be out the door so it was just a snack for brekkie. The first hour of the ride is cruising to get the legs moving and make sure they’re not too sore from that massage. Despite the low pace I pick up a guy with an impressive moustache on my wheel. He never speaks to me, but sticks to my wheel for about 20 minutes.

Around 3 hours into the ride I decide my eating plan was a little too conservative as I get a dip in energy. Power output drops a little and I start fantasising about foods other than the cheap Coles muesli bars I have on me. I wasn’t far from Brunswick Heads where I could stop at the Servo for much needed Coke, Powerade and a Snickers bar. From there I headed home and for once a tail wind over the rough coastal roads. The influx of calories did the trick too and my power picked back up again. A speed bump in Kingston added to my tally of Aussie road induced equipment failure. The mount for my Garmin 705 gave out sending it flying. Fortunately it was still working fine though, just got to get a new mount now.

I got home pretty much on 7 hours, having run out of fluids a little sooner than I hoped. Still the rules say a half hour run off the bike so a quick change, down a load of water and out the door. I shoved a muesli bar in my short’s pocket just in case. I also added $5 as a bit extra in case it really went bad! Normally I carry my emergency gel that I’ve had since WA, but I’ve lost it! I survived the half hour without needing the muesli bar or $5. I got back feeling pretty empty so time to eat and eat and eat!

I’m pleased Pete isn’t up for the mooted 3:30 swim session so I take an extra hours rest before heading out to the pool. Without a strict time to be there I walk rather than ride, been on the bike enough today. Also it means I can allow myself a treat of a couple of biscuits from a bakery on route. Only on a big ride day! Though I’ll be honest it’s not that good a bakery, but it’s the only one en route. No celebrities at the pool at this time of day. I knock out 3km one way or another and am actually starting to feel quite good by the end of it. Then a quick walk home for dinner, I get back feeling ravenous and a little light headed!

Since then it’s been eat, rest and of course waste time on the Internet! Though in this case this lovingly crafted blog post is the result. Sleep soon and then more of the same tomorrow. A long run up the beaches probably to start.

(OK so that was 2 days of my life, I know)