I've had so much to say on this blog this week and yet nothing at all got written... I wanted to write about a couple of killer bike/run workouts I had but then sometimes I think it's none of your damn business. (Lol. What's up with that?) And then I've wanted to write about that shitty swim (which one? There have been plenty) but then sometimes I think what does it matter? In the big picture I guess it wasn't that shitty. But see, now it's Friday and nobody reads blogs on the weekends anyway, right? Because you're all out training, where you should be... and where I will be as well... None of this makes any sense I know... Yet I continue to type... (Somebody please shut this girl up.)
So here's my dilemma with my swim. (Triathletes will not understand this but swimmers will understand this...) It sucks right now. (Sucks is a relative term I know but let's just go with sucks for now b/c it fits for me.) Part of me is like, duh. I am tired because I'm biking and running a lot and it's not unusual for that fatigue to show up in the pool and maybe my swim will come right back when I finally shed some of this fatigue. That is a very real possibility. And let's face it- my weakness is not in the water- it is on the roads- so if my swim suffers some but my running comes along nicely well then that is good, right? Coach talks about good math- give up 5 minutes on the swim and gain 30 on the run. THAT is good math. Yes. I used to teach 6th grade math so yes, I agree. Good math. But then he said something about coming out of the water in CdA in 1:05 and I was like WHOA HOLD ON BUDDY I AM NOT COMING OUT OF THE WATER AT CDA IN 1:05...
But based on how my swim is going right now, I might well come out in 1:05. And I know I know some of you would like be thrilled to death to come out in 1:05 but I'm just telling you I would NOT and this is my blog so let me have my piece (peace?).
So here's the question- Would it matter? Maybe only in my own head. But isn't that the only place it actually would matter? You see, I like being good at swimming. There's something to be said for having confidence in your ability in the water... Knowing you'll come out in a good position and then it's up to your competitors to chase you down. That is how I am used to racing. If I come out of the water in 1:05 then I am in a whole different world. First of all, to Nalani's point, wouldn't T1 be really crowded? Yes. It would be. Everyone comes out in 1:05. Better to come out in :58 and have the change tent to yourself, don't you think?
Counterpoint- come out in 1:05 having spent very little energy in the water and now you're set up for a solid bike/run which is where the race really is. OK. Yes. Point taken.
Am I even capable of not racing the swim? I'm not sure. Is it just an ego thing- that I don't want to let my swim go even if it's for the best in the Big Picture? Very possibly. But can't I have it all? I want it all.
Let's move past the racing though and talk about training. No wonder so many triathletes hate swimming. Swimming sucks when you're not swimming well. I mean, it is just not fun to swim lap after lap after lap and not look at the clock or shoot for a specific interval. Blah. But then when you train like that a lot and then actually do look at the clock every once in a while it's even worse b/c you're like Really? Did I just work that hard and swim that pace? Oy vey. Give me repeat 200's and an insane interval to hit and I'll be way happier than having no interval at all.
Of course those types of very fast workouts have the potential to leave me curled up in a little ball on the couch for the rest of the morning, clutching my coffee for dear life. Yes, I remember a couple mornings like that last year...
Counterpoint- wouldn't it be better to save your training energy for your runs, where it is most needed? OK. Yes. Point taken.
And my running is indeed coming along well. So I've got that going for me. But it still doesn't change the fact that I don't want to be fighting for space in a crowded change tent in T1. Oh the dramatic dilemma of a triathlete...
I just re-read this post and it totally makes me laugh. I know. I'm delusional. But I'm about to hit publish anyway. You're welcome for the entertaining look into the psychotic mind of a triathlete where 5 minutes seems to actually matter somehow.
10 comments:
HA!!! I am not training this AM -- working, and being naughty reading blogs before I head to the SWIM MEET. I am laughing b/c this weekend is the big STATE meet here in IL - for us it is huge...4 days of competition! And, I spend all this time (months) thinking about the mile at the meet -- how to swim it, prep for it, win it etc....and then I go to Tucson and come home and can barely get thru this week b/c I am so tired. Then, I dive in for the mile and can tell on my first pull (you know) that it is going to be UGLY - too much fatigue from biking and running.
Then, you know what? EVEN when we are buried in all this fatigue from cycling/running - our swim really doesn't go away when we race. We may lose 20" in the mile (like I did) but overall - if we can still "win" or meet our goals - then I guess it is ok, right?
I know -- I am talking in circles now....but I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND your thinking on this b/c I always ask this about myself too -- but I highly doubt you will come out in 1.05 -- tapered, fresh, you will swim very close to what you always have!! :)
This made me laugh too because I DO get it - even as a (former?) triathlete who is a terrible swimmer. The part I get is overanalyzing every piece of the puzzle. But that's why we do endurance sports, right? Because there's no given at any time. I'm so glad to hear that your training is going well. You also know that what happens in training also doesn't always reflect what will happen on race day (I mean that in a good way - that you'll likely surprise yoursef on the swim ;) ).
Since I am injured (for months now) and can't train, I was able to read your blog on this beautiful weekend morning.
I am not a triathlete at your level but I understood your thought process and do not believe it was psychotic in the least.
I read somewhere that there has never been an ironman winner that came out of the water first so I say stick with your math and save your energy for the bike & run.
Happy training!
Reading your blog while laying on some rolling device waiting for my ART. I am so glad to hear that you can admit swimming sucks, because it totally does at times. Yes, T1 may be crowded but you might love passing every one on the bike and then the run. Listen to your coach and try out his racing strategy.
ha ha! yes, welcome to the world of non-swimmers. (although you will never fit in that category). I LOVE to swim, but it is very, very discouraging to always have slow times even thought I am a consistent Mo-fo when it comes to swim practice. I put in a ton of work and get so little back from it. Wait, that is not true, I get to line up for a race, swim my little heart out, have a panic attack or two, and come out of the water way, way behind everyone. But, you know what...you won't be 1:05. you will be way faster as usual, AND so will your run. :)
Okay... speaking from the point of a 1:05 IM Swimmer.... it's still not bad at that point. The bulk will roll in >1:10. :)
I think you are gonna be surprised at the tent in CDA - it's a slow swim so anything under 1:10 and you are golden. My first year, 1:18 (I don't want to talk about it) and I couldn't even get IN the tent. People were literally changing outside of the tent…
I WILL be under 1:10. That swim is a BITCH. I will have my revenge and not swim to the resort on accident this year :-)
Gee, the tent was nice and empty when I came out an hour later than that :-)
I totally hear you though. And I'm glad to hear that fatigue does contribute to the swim feeling like crud because here I am at end of a big training block (for April, when I have nothing big for months and months race-wise) and my swim just DRAGGED on Friday. And has felt slow lately, yet my biking is getting faster! I'll take the tradeoff :)
The only thing I will say about the CdA swim is that it is by far the roughest one I have EVER done- no contest. GG says the same thing and usually come out right around an hour...u want to avoid the madness somehow, maybe try coming out around 1:30? lol...or u and GG could hold hands and swim together?
You sound like me. HAHAHAHA!
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