Seeing stars...
Oh boy, oh boy. That was a struggle. My first interval was hard, but in the end I met my goal watts. I sorta bombed on the second one. I came in 7w below my target for the 20 minutes. I couldn't keep it together. I may have busted the first one too hard which left me with not as much oomph for the second. I also was out of my usual pre-workout gels, which meant I had to try something new for fuel. To make matters worse during my rest intervals I really did see stars!
I was glad I was sitting down or I may have actually fallen down. 
What is the deal??? I think there's a mental demon here that I need to work on. This is only 5' more than what I have been doing....
Crikey!
Oh well, the work is done, I've put in the effort on the bike did the run, downed a pile of oatmeal and now it's time to hit the shower....Ugh!
You guys all have to stick your numbers today...to pick up my slack. One what extra from each of you and we'll have made up my deficit!
Comments
I need to be careful what I ask for..,.first interval trainer ride this morning and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. RPE was so much higher to hold the same watts vs. the great outdoors. Oh well. I nailed my first 20', but had to cut my 2nd one short (only 15') due to an early conference call (and not getting up early enough...slacker I know). No run for me today as my knee has been swelling so I'm going to focus only on the quality runs for a few weeks.
I think our team captain (Olivia) needs to institute a new rule. I am having a huge problem with feeling inadequate
. The new rule… no more posting what your specific workout entails (# of intervals, length of intervals). I about killed myself last night trying to hold on to my little twelve minute intervals. I log into the forum and learn that some of the group had to hold on for fifteen minutes
, and then even worse, some had twenty minutes intervals
.
The key is that we're doing our work, whatever the prescribed duration, at whatever pace/wattage/HR that will push us and make us stronger and well prepared for race day. This stuff is hard! We're all pushing our limits and that is what's going to make us faster, stronger, more confident.
One rule for sure: no feelings of inadequacy. Nada. We're all live in this Haus and fundamentally we are all doing the same work. We all came here because we love this game of triathlon, and we want to hang out with other freaks like us who want to not only have fun, but are willing and ready to do what it takes to redefine what we thought was possible in our athletic pursuits. RnP have set this up for us to learn how to suffer individually AND together so that we can reach new goals whether those goals are new race distance goals, new time goals, or "just making it through the current week's workout" goals. We need each other to get through this, cuz all of it hurts! If it didn't hurt it wouldn't be working. Also we ALL have stuff that we can learn from each other, training and racing related or just life related...we have to work as a team to be the best we can be individually when the gun goes off. (Ugh...just thinking about that makes my stomach turn a little....confession...I hate those moments before the gun goes off...)
Ohhhh jeeeez...can you tell I'm totally bored at work!?!? Not much going on for me...and now you guys get the brunt of my boredom. Sorry!!!
What's this I hear about a new bike???? That's another good rule: Any new bikes must be photographed and posted for the rest of us to drool over...
Fred: Ouch on the bike scenario!
Way to keep it together and not let the situation drain you. Sometimes you've got to roll with the punches verses throwing them 
. Also, way to get ur done last week.
Tom: Sounds like you put it all into perspective. You're accountable to your plan and your plan only. We all have to trust our coaches with "the big plan." This whole training philosphy of EN is so backwards compared to supposed conventional wisdom of triathlon training that I too have to stick with the prescribed plan and take it on faith. I'm hoping for results and we'll get a chance to see our progress during the week of Thanksgiving during our 2nd round of tests. By the way, you said you're interested in the White Rim trail near Moab. I've got a story for you if you're interested regarding my one and only time to ride it. Dude, Way to be tenacious!
Olivia: Girl you're kickin butt! Up early on the trainer pulling off today's workout. It was definitely a pain cave fest. I actually did the today's workout last night after a full day in the clinic followed by a board meeting. I could push the watts where they needed to be and even a little higher but my heart rate was in the high Z3 and low-low Z4. What's with that?
Steve, when I first got my power meter last winter I remember noticing that I was hitting the wattage targets but that my HR was lower than I expected it to be. I don't know that I ever really settled on what was up with that. I think I made some stuff up to try to explain it. Generally I think I just accepted that the watts were the true work i was doing/the force I was putting into the pedals, whereas my HR could be reacting to the work and any number of other factors like what I ate/drank the night before, whether I was getting sick, how much sleep I'd gotten etc. Don't know really whether any of that thought process holds any water, but it gave me something...and then I stopped wearing my HR strap! I've been wearing it again now, but I tend to only look at it after workouts. That's impressive that you had such a busy day and then came home and did that workout! Must have been something in that board meeting that motivated you.
We may need to hear the White Rim story. Hopefully it's a good/happy one...I need good stories to come out of Moab no sad or icky ones like my last Moab experience.
Oh, and you're so right about this EN training approach feeling a little backwards. It does take a bit of a leap of faith, and a commitment to the approach....I had a little freakout last week about the fact that I'm not swimming at all. I'm glad to not have to bother with it, but still...sometimes I panic a bit. I almost slipped up too...went to the pool, got in my suit, grabbed cap and goggles....and forced myself to walk past the pool and into the HOT TUB instead. A few minutes there, a few minutes in the steam room, then into the showers. Crisis officially averted...but I almost fell off the wagon!
I found one of my old training week docs from Feb-something of 2006 in prep for IMFL. I almost choked on my OJ when I saw what I was doing. A sample....Monday: 40mins Strength, and then 1.5 hours Master's swim. Tuesday: 1.5 hours bike in Zone 2, :45 run Zone 2. I'm so happy to not have to be logging that volume! I guess I've slurped enough of the EN Kool-Aid to agree that stuff like that, so far out from the race is nuts-o. I'm sure my husband is glad too!
...gotta stay the course on not swimming....
Fred, you have a lot more patience than I have in dealing with that bike issue. At least you are going to end up with exactly what you want.
I must admit to a little jealousy regarding the 2x 20 intervals. I don't want to have to suffer with them, mind you, but I don't like feeling that I'm not meant to be doing them! I trust the coaches, though, and I seemed to fit firmly within the "intermediate" level when asked to choose a plan.
Olivia, I also hate those few minutes before the gun goes off.
Actually, I dread the entire day before and morning leading up to the race, because I get so nervous. I feel almost a rush of relief when I can start swimming because all of the nerves just disappear.
Keep up the hard work this week, team! Everyone is doing a great job!
Olivia:
I had forgotten you did IMF in 2006. That was my 1st year there and it was a year of BIG MILEAGE for sure. I haven't been able to devote that much time to training and I doubt I'll be able to from here out but I was in tip top shape then. I know LSD principles work but I needed a change mentally and EN resonated with me and by all apperances seems ratoinally based. Yes, I'm with you I very much appreciate the time for other things. My wife is a triathlete and Ironwoman so I've got her support but I have 3 kids on the verge of lauching from the nest so they definitely need and deserve more of my time. It all goes so fast.
Okay
I'll check on you about not swimming. I love swimming too but I don't have a pool for most of the year so I don't have the tempation to jump into mother earth's womb. I'm sure you'll be fine by foregoing the swim due to your swimming back ground, so go with EN principles and wait it out. Your swim will come back in 4 to 6 weeks once we pick it up in the late winter months. I'm going to have to commute 75 miles away to swim but I'll just do what it takes, early monring rising probably 4:00 AM'ers. Maybe that's why is so easy for me to say no problem with swimming now 
. But honestly, taking time off swimming to work on your limiters will pay dividends. I've always noticed that my friends with swimming backgrounds retain so much of their swim fitness, even when they haven't swam for months.
Okay, I'll share regarding White Rim. I'm sure you know its a 100 mile trail and most people take their time and cruise it in a 3 day span. Well in 2006 for IMF prep I jumped in with a group of friends for a one day trip. Everything went well until mile 40 where my frame cracked. No problem, a pro I was riding with had an extra bike on our jeep sag wagon and loaned it to me. Sweet bike, but it had hydraulic breaks where I had the old center pull system on my bike. We rode for about another 20 miles and the bike was also a 29'er. I loved it. I was desecending staying up easily with my pro buddies. But on the toughest desecent they were going too slow. So at the bottom at a speed of 35 mph I had to hit the breaks. Remember hydaulic brakes(I'm not use to their hair trigger reacation) so I hit the breaks including the front and the catapault scenario occurred. Yes, I'm flying through air passing my friends on their bikes and after 15 to 20 yards of flying, literally, I landed on my left side on top of my left arm. Ouch, I didn't extend the arms so my collar bone was unscathted. However, by landing with my arm to the side I fractured the head of the radius. There was no deformity just pain. So, I had a decision to make: jump in the sag wagon or complete the ride. I chose to cycle the rest of the ride with only one hand availble due to a sling on the other arm and lots of pain. It was a great mental game in preparation for Florida and I wouldn't trade the experience. Crazy,
I'm mental, yes but it toughen me up to ride in pain for 40 miles. That being said I've had many pleasant rides in Moab road and dirt.
What about your expereince in Moab, rough?
Steve, you are a crazy man! We don't have to worry about your mental toughness.
My Moab story....not glorious in that injuries resulted from non-bike related accident....
I'm kind of in the low-intermediate realm of MTB riders. In April of this year (coincidentally at the end of my first OS experience with EN) we went out to Moab with friends and I brought my MTB for the first time (usually only take road bike). The plan was a full weekend of riding, my biggest goal, however, was to do the Porcupine Rim ride with my friends. They ride it backwards mind you....so uphill. I did the ride with 0 issues except for the fact that all day I had felt a little off in my tummy. I was so proud though!!! After the ride I continued to feel icky, but figured with dinner and relaxation I'd be fine. We went to dinner and as we were paying up I had to rush outside. I knew I was going to get sick. I did. Right there in the parking lot at McStiff's. I was so embarrassed because I was afraid people would think I was some sort of drunk or something. Anyway, after getting sick, and asking Brian (husband) to go get the car. As he walked away, I stupidly decided I would save him the trip. When I stood up to start walking toward him I blacked out immediately. Fell straight forward and fell on my face. Literally. Medical and dental treatments took the place of my 2009 training and racing, and even work for a month.
Ironically that all happend on 5/1/09....as I was laying awake in pain, unable to sleep at Allen Memorial, I realized that a year from that day I would be racing IMSG. Creepy and wierd. But it gave me a new perspective on what I'm so lucky to be able to do with this stuff. I'm still assimilating that whole thing...gives me the shivers a little bit.
Pete
Lynne
ps - be safe out there on the roads!
Lynne--So sorry to hear about your accident! Glad you're ok! And thanks for the Veteran's Day reminder. It gave me a little extra motivation during my run this morning! We're so blessed to have our freedom!
Fred
+1 thanks to the Veterans for their service and commitment!
Olivia: I know Moab like the back of my hand. Porkipine Rim backwards, huh? Do you like the cliff edge ascent? Nerve racking for most of us. Holy Smokes, down for the count, flat on your face at Eddie McStiff's parking lot. Ooouuuccch! I'm imagining the dental repair and medical recovery was likely more painful and frustrating than the initial fall. Have you been to Moab since? You know like getting back on the horse once you've been bucked? Maybe you don't have the horrible association but I think it might be easy to have some issues with Moab after such an incident.
Lynne: Go girl!!! on the 2 X 15's. Sorry to hear about the car but glad you're safe and sound. Any whiplash residue in your neck?
Fred: Your bike saga really sucks… good luck
Tom: I know what you mean about the boss-thing, and I am my own boss. I am ready to fire myself for spending some much time on the forums
.
Best luck to every one on the remainder of the week,
Pete