Season Report: Or What Beth Did in Her Ironman Off Year
I had a lot of fun. 
1. I ran a lot. A few weeks after Ironman, the running muse took hold and I just ran a lot. First, there was a stint of 50 runs in 50 days with the excellent Daniels crew. And then another of 40 days later, along with pacing my sister at the Disney 1/2 marathon. (She was doing the Goofy challenge.) I had so much fun. And running feels like brushing my teeth now. It is weird when I don't do it. I also learned those little runs do count. The other runs that count? 40 minutes at threshold pace.
2. I became a much smarter swimmer. My Ironman Wisconsin swim time was 2:10:48. I got kayak accompaniment in from the last buoy. Never again. In January, I got a really great swim assessment and the best swimmer advice ever: I just needed to swim faster. I need swimming also requires cardiovascular build-up and finally joined a master's team, which I love. Drills started in sink in and I'm becoming a much better swimmer. My half ironman swim time decreased from 52 minutes to 44 minutes, and I think there's another few minutes in there by just staying calm and getting into my rhythm and "box" faster. I have now offically become a back of the MOP swimmer -- and climbing.
My plan is to swim all winter and think I'll set myself up for a completely respectable Ironman 2012 swim. I'm looking forward to crowded changing tents and seeing lots of bikes on the rack. One of the best things about being a better swimmer is that I feel like I'm racing from the start and not just surviving the first part. It is all about seeing racks with lots of bikes at swim exit.
I also spent a lot of time in the open water. Starting in June, I was there at least once per week. It paid off. I love open water swimming now. It is totally different from pool swimming, but I love it and am starting to miss it.
3. I was a bike sinner. I got bored with OS bike workouts and wasn't terribly motivated. Then, I went outside for my first ride in the spring and learned you don't get to take all your Ironman fitness with you. So, bike OS workouts. You are my friend this year! I will be a bike workout saint!
I also discovered watching the Sufferfest while doing indoor intervals rules. Apparently, I like to chase down Boonen. So, whatever gets this girl through workouts will be used. =-)
4. My real A race this year was riding the Horribly Hilly Hundred one week and then doing the Ragnar Madison to Chicago relay the next week. And I showed up and did both prepared and had a lot of fun going pretty fast.
5. Timberman 1/2 - This was my first bike ride where I traveled with my bike. It is pretty easy. Although I did learn to go on a good test ride beforehand -- I had a major mechanical (learned later my newly installed chain was two inches too long) on the bike, got to stand on the side of the road for about ten minutes adjusting stuff, and rode a very hilly course with six gears, knowing I was cooking my legs for the run. I had a disappointing time, but a) finished, b) had fun, c) am looking forward to an early season revenge 1/2. Mostly, it was great to race with friends, get to hug Chrissy Wellington (I was so not cool. She was awesome.), and learn New Hampshire doesn't have anything flat.
6. Accomplished my sekrit summer mission of running a sub 22 minute 5k. I did. I ran a 21:05 5k on a brick run after a three-hour bike ride without trying. Lesson? Maybe legs do what they want to do and sometimes running for joy and fun produces faster results than gathering all the grit.
So, lots of fun. My head is definitely is a good place to join the November OS and train to run Miami-Key West as an ultra in January. Ironman off year? Definitely a good idea!
Comments
Looking forward to racing Ragnar Miami-Florida with you and getting back into bike OS sainthood with you too!
They do! It is amazing what a little less structure can do for the head. I also got to race everything I missed doing in IM year. They make for a rather strict summer schedule!
Yeah, throwing a giant, successful fundraiser and learning how to be a board member -- glad I had some headspace for those things!
I'm thinking through what I want to do next year and a story like this really shows that the sky's the limit and you can do a whole lot when not training for one massive "A" race.
I may yet do an "A" race-focused season next year, but you have really created a compelling picture for less structure and a more varied set of goals.
btw my best 10k ever came this year off the bike...strange how that works
It really was fun. Perhaps the point I should stress is that I really didn't do anything I didn't want to do. Lots was done, but the schedule felt casual.