Off Season Can Be Tough

It's the off season for me as it is for alot of people. It's time to literally NOT be in peak condition, to lose fitness, and gain some weight (hopefully not too much). Sounds pretty good, or does it???

 

  I have really been struggling recently with feeling overly tired and purely exhausted. I have been trying to keep up my training (not at the same intensity as before) but continually find myself feeling more and more exhausted. I have to let go. It's okay to recover. In fact, if I don't recover I will be screwed going into my Ironman training starting in January and February. Just the same, something keeps telling me that I need to hold on to my long distance runs and bikes. Thing is, I just don't feel like it. 

 

  Today, I finally put on my "to-do-list" to Google 'triathlon off season recovery' and I found several interesting articles and video clips. All of them were saying that you have to take at least 3-6 weeks off. Off doesn't mean low intensity swims, bikes and runs. Off literally means off!!! In fact there is a 6 time world Ironman champion who literally takes 6 weeks off and does nothing physical except surfing. Seems to be working very well for him. Most of the articles I read also said that you have to lose fitness. You can not maintain your peak fitness during off season and then build upon that to become even more fit. No, it doesn't work that way. You WILL burn out!!! You have to give your mind and body a break, a serious break. This is called periodization!!!! I swear by periodization and have all my clients practice it. So why can't I?? Oh man, what a great question.

 

1. It's tough to lose the fitness you worked so hard on building.

2. It's not fun to watch clothes get tighter.

3. I'm feeling lost in the morning.

4. My days do not seem as successful without a hard training session.

5. As a mommy, if I don't exercise in the morning it often doesn't happen. So I am having a hard time finding something else to do later in the day with my little man.

6. I have to do something since it helps keep me sane.

7. Ironman is 9 months away and I feel its constant pressure.

 

But here is the truth to each above statement:

 

1.  Sounds like many experience the paranoia that lost fitness can never be gained back. Every race season proves that paranoia faulty though. Of course I will lose fitness but it doesn't take long to gain it back and possibly surpass it.

2.  Once training starts again the extra off-season pounds will melt away and I will feel as good as new. I hope. :-) It's expected to gain a little during off-season and especially during the holidays.

3. Sleep in for once and focus on spending even more quality time with Tucker.

4. Mark my success during the off season by getting as much sleep as possible.

5. I can walk, ride bike with Burley, snowshoe in the winter, cross-country ski, and so much more. I know there are options, I just need to be more creative.

6. Go for a walk in the early morning AFTER having an extra long worship.

7. I only need about 7 months to prepare for Ironman which leaves me 2 wonderful months to RECOVER!!!

 

As one of the articles said:

 

So, repeat after me.

“This is the off-season.”
“I will not be in peak condition.”
“I will lose fitness.”
“I will put on weight.”
“This is okay.”

It has to be okay in order to be a success (which means finish) at Lake Placid. So, for the next two months I am going to try really hard to focus on recovery not peak performance. I have to change my mind-set and just see it as a new and different challenge that is VITAL to my training.

 

Happy Off Season Everyone, Alicia 

The Maine Marathon

The weather man said sunny, highs in the low 60's for marathon Sunday. This was the forecast  predicted a week before the event. Day of event; pouring rain!!! :-) The alarm went off, I grabbed my stuff, jumped in the car and drove to Portland in the rain. I kept telling myself the rain would probably stop by the time the race started. Wishful thinking is a powerful thing. Once in Portland I walked up to the Sullivan Gym to get my race number, to pick up my goody bag and to use the bathroom. Needless to say it rained as I walked up to Sullivan Gym and as I walked back to the car. After getting my race number I had some time to spend so I bundled up in all my rain gear and walked around to see the start/finish line. Then I went back to the car to wait until 10 minutes before the start of the race. As I sat in the car the rain pounded down. For some reason the sound of the rain wasn't really helping me get too excited about getting out of the car to run 26.2 miles. I solved the problem by putting Skull Candy in my ears for the remainder of the time. Listening to music drowned out the rain and if I closed my eyes I could pretend it was a beautiful sunny day, then I could start to get my game face on. Well, in no time at all it was time to gear up, glide up and get up. I had to take the Skull Candy out of my ears and face the reality of a very rainy race day. As I was leaving the car I quickly grabbed a long-sleeve race top just in case. I'm so glad I did because I wore it the entire marathon. It was actually a bit windy and cold for me. 

  Once I surrounded myself with all the athletes the rain just didn't matter!!! It was just a little extra twist to the day. Right before the gun went off I saw Tom T. who gave me a big hug and some words of wisdom. He said "Alicia, don't get caught up in the half marathoners. Alot of them will be running by you at a pretty good pace. Be careful and pace yourself according to your training not according to the half marathoners. Don't go out too fast". Tom was so right!!! When the gun went off I started out, one foot in front of the other. After no time at all I glanced down at my HR monitor to see that my rate was well above where I should be. I was keeping up with most of the people around me which was not good. When I reached the first mile clock it said 7 minutes something.   Shoot!!! I knew I was going too fast. Tom's words of wisdom ran through my brain and I immediately pulled back and started relying only on my heart rate. I am not a 7 minute mile marathoner (I would love to be some day) so I knew if I kept up that pace I would screw myself. During my training I was able to keep up a 7 something minute mile for about 13-16 miles but not for 26 miles. Unfortunately my HR monitor wasn't working entirely. It wasn't telling me my pace, distance, etc. Would have been very helpful if it did. I am certain I could have finished in under 3:40. I felt like I had more to give during the marathon but I just couldn't tell what was going on. It was very frustrating to say the least. I also need to have negative splits and feel like I could have if I could have watched my pace very carefully during the entire race. Oh well!! No big deal but hopefully I can figure out how to work my new HR monitor very soon!!! 

  The run went really well for me otherwise.Within the first couple minutes I was soaked. Rain was dripping off my hat and my toes squished with every step. At times it poured, otherwise it was a steady rain.  I used nearly all the aid stations trading between water and Gatorade. My race belt had some pouches attached to it so I was able to carry my own fuel. Physically I felt great until about mile 22. I happened to hit a brick wall at mile 22 and it peaked at mile 24 to 25.  My legs were screaming at me to just walk a little bit. But my brain said emphatically NO!!! Once I reached mile 25 I felt pumped and was able to pick up my pace and finish strong. 

  Two of my Couch to 5k participants, Lisa C. and Kris M. drove all the way down to Portland in the pouring rain and waited for me at the finish line for about 30 minutes. It meant the world to me that they would take time out of their busy schedules to cheer me on. What good sports!!!

  

  Honestly, I am not very proud of my time, 3:43:47, but we all have to start some where. Next time around I hope to improve big time and race on a sunny day. Until then I have my work cut out for me.

   I would recommend the Maine Marathon to anyone. The course is beautiful, the volunteers are amazing, the goody bag was full of great stuff, the massage tent was pure bliss and the camaraderie of the athletes is addicting. Several of my teammates did the marathon with great times. Charlie did the race as well as Andy, Kim, Roy, Anne,  Kathy (who did it in 3:35), Tom (who placed first in his age group with 3:15), and Eric (who cut 30 minutes off his time). It was fun seeing them all there!!! Go MTC!!!

  Running the marathon was an amazing experience. I learned so much which I hope will help me with my Ironman training. I know the marathon portion of the ironman is a totally different beast compared to just running a marathon.  

Happy running, Alicia