motivation...

As i am in a transition period of my training. Meaning, i am trying to get over the little niggles i am feeling in my legs by not running (again). As well as beginning my base phase for the cycling and swimming. I have been comtemplating my reasons for doing what i do and this is what i have come up with:

1. I like being in shape both by looking fit (six pack and the like)and by being able to ride 40+miles, swim daily and run half marathons without much second thought.

2. I think about going fast and i like the feeling, so training helps me get faster and therefore live the 'fast' dreams.

3. I like competition. Training helps me be competitive where most people could never be and i feel truly blessed for that ability.

The problem i am facing is the fact that i have no long term goals. Sure the olympics would be great, Ironman too. But, i am not sure i could stay motivated for 4 years to, perhaps, be disappointed. I am the kind of person who waits til a week or two before a race to sign up so i know i really want to do it. Until this last fall, I hadn't specifically trained for a race for more than a month. Its usually a spur of the moment decision whether to race or not.

The bottom line of this problem is: how am i going to keep myself motivated to swim everyday, run everyday or bike everyday, let alone do all of them multiple times every week? So far i have had mediocre success with local races and a general natural ability pull me to the finish line, usually in a high placing. But a top-5 finish in a local race is nothing campared to be top-5 in a high class field of racers. I can see myself being a great athlete, but how do keep myself motivated to reach that goal? And what exactly is that goal? Olympian? Ironman? Until i figure that out, i feel like it is an endless struggle to keep myself motivated.

Time flies...

What happened to these days?

More snow...

Last wednesday, one week ago from today, I was running in short sleeves and shorts. I believe the temperature that day was close to 60 degrees, 57 i think. Absolutely gorgeous. Most of the snow from the previous christmas holiday storms was gone and sunny portions of the trails were mostly dry and firm again. And then...

28inches of snow, hours of shoveling and a rare snowday at NAU later, i am wiped. Mentally and Physically. I literally shoveled hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of snow the last couple of days from our driveway. My shoulders, back, abs, and forearms are all sore. I took a day off from swimming today because even if i wanted to swim it would be a wasted workout because of my aching muscles. I was asleep last night at 8pm. Lame. I know.

Mentally, i was stoked for the trails to be back open. I am not really a fan of running on the streets (although i will do it out of necessity). And the streets aren't all that safe anyway. Ice and cars tend to keep me off the asphalt.

Good news is, my dad will probably not be gone fighting fires this summer as much. And, we desperately need the moisture.

Nothing much...

Not much happening here.

A couple days late, but the Cardinals lost and the whole of Arizona sighed at being so close to a championship winning state again. The weather is nice, pending a horrible snow storm predicted for this weekend. I, after a few weeks, have finally found a routine around my school schedule to train. And i missed out on signing up for the Desert Classic Duathlon this last weekend because of being sold out. I tend to wait until the last minute to sign up, just to make sure I am really going to be ready. It doesn't bode well for these kinds of races that sell out early.

Its a bummer that I am not racing in February, but there are some upsides. One of the silver linings means i don't have to spend money to race or travel. Without having a job for the next couple of months, its nice not spending so much money. Secondly, I am not feeling pressured to be physically ready for it.

Next race is the Tempe International Triathlon in May. It will be my first olympic distance triathlon and if training goes well, it could be a break-out triathlon for me. And i will make sure i sign up early for it. ;)

Feelin' better...

After a slow start back into running and a quick examination by a physical therapist of my calves, i am feeling better after my break. I have started to take stretching more seriously (something i took for granted) and have slowed down my easy runs. I am usually a 'give it all you got' kind of runner, even on easy days and I have begun to change. My muscle soreness is becoming a deterrant to running and i don't want it to be, hence the change of mentality.

I ran about 20 miles last week along with a few hours on the indoor bike trainer as i prepare for the Desert Classic Duathlon at the end of February. I hope to work my way back up to 35-40 miles/week by the first week of Feb. I am not looking to run any PR's, although a good time would be appreciated and a Worlds Qualifying wouldn't be too shabby either.

I got back in the pool again today too after 5 weeks out and, although not as fast, I felt good and bad at the same time. I felt exactly where I should be. My endurance suffered, my muscles were a little tight. I hope to be back to full strength in the next few weeks in the water as well.

As far as i am concerned I am feeling good about where I am physically, albeit still a tad tight in the legs, and I should be ready for the Desert Classic when it rolls around.

Changes...

The first big change is it is now 2009! It has been 2009 for a few days and so far, not so special. But, who knows, i don't tend to judge the outcome of things by the beginning. If everyone judged things that way, Michael Phelps wouldn't have won 8 gold medals, The two wars we are in would be over and the snow would just keep coming down. Fortunately Michael Phelps did win 8 golds, and it has stopped snowing everyday.

Now, on to running. Big news: I am not running the marathon, nor the half marathon anymore. I really had to re-evaluate my goals for 2009. I originally signed up for the RNR Marathon in phoenix with the intent to leap frog into the AZ Ironman in November. Well, plans changed there too and I don't think thats the way i want to go just yet. I want to focus on the shorter distance triathlons and work my way up.

Physically i wasn't feeling it either. The recovery from the Tucson half took a lot more out of me than i expected and i wasn't feeling good on my long runs after that. I thought, "Man, if it takes me this long to recover from the half marathon, its going to take me twice as long to recover from the full!" And i can't take that much time off. I have a Duathlon at the end of February and it is a world championship qualifier. I don't have the intent to race at the World championship if i make it, but i want to give myself the best shot at qualifying. Secondly, i just felt like a I needed a break. I haven't run since christmas eve and i think this is good for my legs. Once school starts back up in a little less than a week. I will get back in the pool, back on the trainer and back out on the roads to train for the new exciting year ahead!

Snow feelings...

I think i am finally recovered enough to start running again. I went out on saturday for an easy 5 miles and felt alright, just trying to shake out the cobwebs in my muscles. My calves still get tight when i run and i am a little worried about it. I can't really take any more time off from running. My marathon is in less than 4 weeks.

I went out again today and did a moderate 8 miles. Felt a lot better than saturday but my calves still got tight at about 4 miles. Now, its snowing and the roads and sidewalks haven't melted from the last storm. This is my least favorite part of running during the winter. I absolutely cannot do treadmills, which means, i just have to make do with the conditions i live in. I have to work back up to my endurance level and i should be set for the full in january. I am thinking that one way or another i am going to finish that full marathon. I have too many friends giving me encouragement to wimp out on it. The next few weeks will be key.