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June 9, 2008
The Long Ones
Everyone has those workouts that are tough for them. Tough for them physically or tough for them mentally. Or both. Those workouts that strike fear when first noticed on the schedule and cause a little flip flop in the belly when you are preparing to do them. Those workouts that you know will be challenging, on all levels, to get through.
For some it's hard intervals on the track or tempos on the bike or 200s in the pool. It could be the long run or maybe even the short, easy spin that is hardest to get out the door for. We are all different.
I know for me, it's the long ones. The long bikes and long swims that is. Coming from a running background there really isn't too awful much that spooks me in terms of running workouts. Don't get me wrong - the running that my coach gives me to do challenges me and is tough as all get out! But it's generally not stuff that I haven't been doing for years already and know full well that my body can handle.
Swimming and cycling though - those are different stories. It's not the short fast stuff on the bike or in the pool because that's the kind of stuff I live for. But rather it's those long rides and long swim intervals that strike fear.
Anything over 3 hours on the bike seems like an eternity to me! I do almost all my riding by myself so I know that that's part of it, but still. That just seems like an awful long time to be doing something! :) And to tell you the truth - it's the long rides like those in the 5-7 hour range - that keep me from wanting to do a full distance IM. I know one day I will not be able to resist but for now - my 4 hour long rides are enough for me thankyouverymuch! :)
In the same department is the long swim intervals. Again, I always do these by myself and therefore I think that makes them tougher, but still! Any interval set over 400s makes my knees knock!
So this morning when I saw a 4500 yd swim on my schedule with a mainset of 3x800 and 6x150 I shuddered! 3x800?!?! Like what the heck?!
Now I know, I know. There are people out there reading this thinking - "what a baby!!" 4500 yds in the pool or 4 hours on the bike isn't that bad at all!! And slowly I'm getting used to stuff like that. But for me, for now, these are the really challenging workouts.
So of course because they are so tough for me, I get absolutely BENT on nailing them. And this morning was no exception. I was tired when I woke up for sure. Tired for the fact that it was 4:45 am but also because it was a pretty big weekend of training and the heat was taking it's toll and doing housework/yardwork is something that really tires me out!
But I wanted those 3x800s bad. And then the 6x150s were to be done as 100 fast/50 moderate. And I wanted them too.
First 800 I kept smooth and under control and still was *quite* pleased with my time. Very nice. Number two - okay, now it's getting harder. And boy is this pool water HOT. And man does my stroke seem to be getting shorter. And am I on 650 or 700? When will this dang 800 be over?! But I finished it and went 8 seconds faster than the first one. And now for the last one, where I had to erase all my thoughts altogether because I couldn't come up with one positive thought for the life of me! Sometimes I just have to let the mind run blank - because that's better than thinking negatively! And I also reminded myself that giving up on this interval just because I was tired and just because "mentally" an 800 seemed long, was JUST NOT AN OPTION. It's amazing how strong our minds can be, or how weak.
Third one was the fastest one of all.
So now onto the 150s, which honestly felt like nothing after the 800s! Save for the fact that my arms were getting very tired, very quickly! I was so pleased to rip off some 1:15s for the fast 100 part of the 150s, which for me, is very fast.
And so it goes. I finished off the workout with the slowest 300 cooldown possible and left quite a happy camper. Because for me, getting through a big swim like that is very rewarding. Just the same as getting through a long ride. These are the kind of workouts I remember on race day when I wonder if I can continue on. These are the kind of workouts that make us who we are as racers!
Posted by beth at June 9, 2008 8:15 PM
Comments
your swimming is getting INCREDIBLE! Too cool that a runner is turning into a swimmer! 1:15 is more than respectable, it's FAST! Your first paragraph is so easy to relate too... like you, I stare at the hard day all week just freakin' till it arrives and I am with you... it is always the LONG bikes that scare me!! Unlike most long course people I have only ever ridden 5.5 hrs at most...!!! I plan to keep it like that too!
Yep, those workouts are why you are so tuff on race day!
Posted by: breewee at June 10, 2008 1:17 AM
I could have written this post! Minus the 1:15s and the running background! :) But seriously, it's nice to know that no matter where we are in the pack, we all have similar fears.
Posted by: Leah at June 10, 2008 7:50 AM
I could have written this post! Minus the 1:15s and the running background! :) But seriously, it's nice to know that no matter where we are in the pack, we all have similar fears.
Posted by: Leah at June 10, 2008 7:51 AM
Very nice swimming!
I was thinking of you at teh track today. I was very sweaty and those little white fluffy things started to blow around and I was wondering if I was going to start to look like a chicken...
:) D
Posted by: Danielle at June 10, 2008 3:43 PM