Monday, July 26, 2010

Tri For It! Development Team @ Chisago


The Tri For It! Development Team had a great morning on Saturday at the Chisago Lakes Kids Tri.  Zach took first in the 11 year old boys division and Jenna overcame a lengthy T1 to place in the top 1/2 of the 9 year old girls.  The day wasn't really about placing though (same as adult races really).  More importantly it was an opportunity to reinforce how fun a healthy active lifestyle can be.

Tri For It! Coaching Youth Development Team - Zach and Jenna pre race.


Body Marking


Chugging towards finish.
Chicking on the left!
Up the hill to the finish.
The finish hurts so good!
Zach with Karl Oskar Days Princess and his 1st place schwag.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Don't Ignore Your Body's Check Engine Light

Sometimes enough is too much.  Among the many ways to group triathletes, I see 2 distinct training theories.  There is one group that has a plan and by god they are going to follow it.  Another group trains based upon . . . well, I'm not sure what their training is based upon - the weather? what their buddy is doing?  I'm speaking to the first group - those with the plan.

Having a training plan and following it is a great idea. Except when it isn't.  Some triathletes will ignore all kinds of warning signs just to follow the plan.  I give you an example near and dear to my heart - ME.  Last year I was training for my first Ironman at Coeur D'Alene.  I had my plan and I was going to follow it.  An improper bike fit manifested itself in knee pain on the bike after a preparatory half iron race.  The knee had bothered me a bit leading up to the race but I ignored it to follow the plan.  I ended up in physical therapy and taking 3 weeks off the bike right at the peak of my training.  Oops.

This year I'm training for Ironman Wisconsin.  I'm taking a radically different approach.  A lot of people training for Ironman races wander around like zombies most of the time.  They still have work and family obligations and training eats into their sleep schedule.

A couple of weeks ago I hit a wall.  I had 3 lousy nights of interrupted sleep (one downside of being married to a physician who delivers babies).  I was up early training each morning.  Saturday I had a long run.  Sunday my son had an early morning hockey game and the schedule called for a 3 hour brick (2 hour bike followed by an immediate 1 hour run).  When I got back from the hockey game all I wanted to do was go back to sleep.  My body was fighting the plan.  Last year I would have dragged myself out to the garage and started on the bike.  This year I listened to my body and slept for 2 hours.  I woke up refreshed and spent the rest of the day with the family.

I don't doubt that if I had followed the plan and done that brick I would have gotten very little out of the workout and most likely would have ended up getting sick.

Overwhelming fatigue is not the only warning sign that the plan needs modification.   Other signs include:
irritability (more than usual), depression, heavy limbs, changes in sleep patterns and appetite.  When I find myself having less patience with the kids I know I need a break (maybe from them, but more likely from training).

It's still important to train and to train hard.  Knowing when to take a break requires paying attention to the body's check engine lights.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Pair of Bronzes and A Near Miss

Both Anne P. and Mike V. completed their first full triathlon at Minneman this past weekend.  Anne P. took 3rd in the Novice Women 40-44.  Coach Rich barely held off a charging football carrying Clydesdale named Dooby for 3rd place.  Mike V. just missed 3rd in the Novice Men 30-34 by 14 seconds. (We're pretty sure the shorts alone cost him that much time.)

Mike V. is already looking for a fall 10k for his next challenge.  Anne P. is gearing up for the Minneapolis Women's Triathlon in August.

Coach Rich will be in Madison this weekend for WIBA (a low key training camp for Ironman Wisconsin).  After that is the Chisago 1/2.  What's your next race?