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Fork in the road.

chris malonechris malone
in General Training Discussions

 

After last year I figured my tri days were over. After 10 years of mostly HIMs, I had a big year for me with 2 halfs and a full. I finally immersed myself in the training and set aside to a greart extent work and other interests and relationships. Now I love just racing and riding the bike; crits, cross and road and my MOP results don't even bother me-much. I climb and camp and golf and ski and I am back to earning a living. You know, balance. "Normality."

But lately I've gone trail running with the dog (she does most of the running) and I've been to the pool twice this week for no apparent reason. I'm reminded of Nicholas Cage in Raising Arizona who, after being released from prison tries to stay on the straight and narrow but "found himself driving by convenience stores....that were not on the way home." Recidivism...repeat offender..... 

I watch tt's and have ridden a few and when watching Kona I was in awe of Cam Brown's run form and race execution. And per usual, I couldn't keep my eyes off of Cafree. Her running is amazing. But mostly I was yearning to be back on the bike, dialed in the aero position and efficiently rolling up the miles. I admire Coach P who over the years has transformed himself. He's always been strong and tough but he wasn't always as light. More than coming back from his big bike wreck in Cali, his dietary discipline in my view has been his most impressive achievement. Hanging around roadies now I am really made aware of strength to weight and how, very simply, it is about being light. Everyone who trains well is strong, but not everyone is light and that is almost always the difference. Body comp. Little known fact: both RnP have been known to be "pudgy" in the past and both this year demonstrated great discipline and attention to body comp. Kudos to those dudos. 

I'm really quite large for triathlon. Right now I'm about 238 and not pudgy, but not ripped either. I haven't checked my body fat lately but I am going to start keeping track of that. My best race weight has been 223-225. I'm 6'5". I'm also now older, but I want to do more in tri (I think) so I'm making a deal with myself. If, by January I am between 220 and 225, I will consider signing up for a couple of halfs in '12. I feel strongly that I need to race at no more than 210-215. That would be very skinny for me, but I know it is a very reasonable goal and really the best way for me to enjoy the sport and not break down. As we age we might not get much stronger but we can get lighter, which is the about the same thing.

I want to do this through a good diet and consistent exercise, and not through focused/obsessive training. In the past, I've been able to out eat any training program. (It's a talent.) I believe that if my urge to tri again is great enough I will get this done. I know I don't want to race unless I'm quite light. I can keep and maybe improve a bit upon my best ft on the bike, regardless of weight but the run is very dependent upon my being as light as possible, as it is for everyone.

Many say the holidays are not the best time of year to attempt this but I see it differently. It is a discipline issue, ultimately, and so I need to accept that and practice it. Further, if I do it now, before more focused training beginning in Feb, then I've put these "off" months to good use and it's also a time when calories aren't critical, just fun. Last, the holidays are not as big a social deal for me anymore so I'm not indulging the way I used to.  

So do I want it enough? We shall see. I'm checking out of EN for a couple of months starting in November but may set up a blog to keep track of things. If I do, I'll forward the link, as I know you're all on the edge of your seats. image Off I go.   

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