So that's kind of how I'm justifying the fact that I gave up on my sparkly new coaching relationship less than a month into it. In the end, it turns out, I don't actually want to follow a strict Ironman training plan right now. Right now, I want to run. A lot. I want to run the 30K in 3 weeks and I want to run the 1/2 marathon 3 weeks after that and then I want to run the Honolulu Marathon 3 weeks after that. So while maybe a bike focus with only 14 mpw of (hard) running would have been a better long term ironman plan (?? maybe... up for debate), my heart said run the marathon. So I scrapped those 14 hard miles that were on my schedule this week and replaced them with 38 MAF miles (somewhere Lucho is smiling... for better or worse I am scarred for life now believing that building a MAF base is critical before trying to run hard) and along the way, even through all those boring tedious jogging miles this weekend, I found my joy.
It's funny how we feel bound to the schedule that our coach creates for us. I definitely felt that way. But then I felt like I wanted to run more. Like, a lot more. So I felt conflicted! And then when the coach says no I don't think the marathon 14 weeks out from your Ironman is a good idea, you go away from the conversation maybe a little bummed thinking you can't run it. Too bad so sad. But then you wake up and think WTF!?! I am an adult and this is my hobby and if I want to run the fucking marathon, I'm going to run the fucking marathon. And if it turns out to be a bad idea, well, I'll live with the consequences.
So there you go. Yesterday I was supposed to run a hard hilly hour hour, but I ran 2 hours MAF instead and ended up here.
I drove the car home then went back to get him this morning... Looks like a postcard, no?
Mahalo to Mike Abbott for the photos!
Instead of driving back, I ran. It was awesome. My MAF pace improved 13"/mile in 1 day, even though day 2 was way hotter and net uphill. I love watching my fitness come back! I'm still crazy slow at MAF but I'm thinking in 4-6 weeks I should be in a much better spot and then the hard running I'll do will be more beneficial because a) I'll be able to do it and b) I'll be able to absorb it and c) I'll be able to recover from it. That's how it's worked for me in the past and that's how it's worked for a whole bunch of athletes I've coached over the years so that's how I'm going to try to do it again. ;)
So in the end, what's the lesson? That you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Lol. Nah, I am definitely open to new ways of doing things, but the fact of the matter is that personally, I thrive on load... emotionally and physically, I thrive on load. I read an interview by Matt Dixon where he said that about MBK and I was like YES! THAT is how I feel too! When I miss out on training load, I feel oddly empty and dissatisfied. So while 12 hard hours/week would probably be a magic formula for some people, turns out, it drives this old dog crazy in 3 weeks flat. Is that a new record?
6 comments:
Oh my eyes my eyes. "If I want to run the ______ Marathon, I will run the ________ Marathon." ;)
Interesting about your load thing. That is a very honest statement about yourself. It doesn't necessarily mean that is a good thing, or a bad thing, but definitely something unique to you. Others may be like that, but you realize that about yourself.
That empty feeling though, if you don't have the big load. I wonder why that is??
Oh well. Take it easy. I love the honesty in this update. Have a good one. :)
Oh, and btw a marathon in Hawaii sounds like a horrible place to have a Marathon. :)
Nope on the record. It's called trusting your gut :)
Haha! Rarely outside of these wonderfully weird circles that we are in would someone say "But I WANNA run more!" I'm so glad you're teaching Moana that changing your mind is okay, it's a simple yet terribly important lesson to learn.
3 weeks do sound like a very short time but it seems that you realized what you want (we always realize what miss when we loose it, right?) and followed your gut feeling. Why be miserable when it is easy to "change your mind".
Is the split permanent or you start working with her after the marathon?
I TOTALLY think that doing what you are doing is the BEST thing right now - because it's what YOU are craving! Beautiful pics!
When I read your first posts about your new coach and her style, I couldn't help but think, "hmmmm..." It just didn't seem like it filled your cup the same way your previous training did. Sounds like you're back on a plan that puts a smile on your face and in the end, that's all that matters!
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