Since IMSG, I've been enjoying french fries. It's been my 5th day in a row. There's no greater feeling that finishing an Ironman and relaxing with no rules.It's so weirdly wonderful to eat, drink, do no training and not care one bit. I know it won't be long until I'm back training full steam ahead for IMLP, so why not enjoy the change of pace?
In the whole scheme of things, a week or two off isn't going to negatively effect my performance. I learnt that firsthand after China. Heck, I was "Gonzo" for three weeks after China from a virus. In the remaining three weeks before IMSG, I was able to get back all my lost fitness and have a great race.
This year has been one of those learning years. Some people can read lessons in a book and learn, I can't. I need to make mistakes. I need to feel the emotion of a mistake. A book doesn't give me that.
I've learnt two BIG lessons this year. The first lesson was "time off doesn't set you back". Even after three weeks of illness, reduced training and lost fitness, I was able to get it all back within a few weeks.
The second lesson was to "have fun". Putting to much performance pressure on yourself is stressful. Setting time goals are an all or nothing target, and even if you hit the target, it only spells "accomplishment", but not "fun".
Triathlon is a lifestyle, not just a sport. It's a journey, not just a destination. I cerebrally know that, but I never had it emotionally seared in my soul.
Thankfully, due to the mistakes I made in preparing for Ironman China, I learnt the hard way. I was starting to treat triathlons as a "destination" and it wasn't fun. I adjusted and went back to treating triathlons as a "journey" and IMSG was more fun than I could have dreamt.
My learning came from trying and comparing two different plans.
Plan A: I trained harder for China, I ate better for China, I didn't drink beer before China, I slept more for China, I had specific goals for China and I had the worst race of my life.
Plan B: I trained less than China, I ate worse than China, I drank more beer than China, I slept less than China, I had no specific goals and I had a wonderful time.
After I articulated the approaches in writing, I noticed that Plan A seems so "boring". Plan B seems "fun". Plan A was like I was training to achieve a "destination". Plan B was like I was training as part of my "lifestyle". Plan A seems "grey". Plan B seems "colourful".
I can now say I have my first "emotionally seared" triathlon tattoo. It reads, "PLAN B". I learnt the hard way that colourful feels and looks better on me.
Ironman recovery - Rest Day
3
April Totals
Swim - 16 km / 9.92 miles
Bike - 887.37 km / 550.17 miles
Run - 175.87 km / 109.04 miles
Weights - 3 sessions
Total - 1079.24 / 669.13 miles
Calories - 46,823
177
Posts
12 comments:
177!? I see you nearly drank your weight in beer, haha.
...wow, very similar to my yesterday post thinking...nice to think very similar!
Cheers from HK!
"XTB" Xavi.
B
Agree 100%, have fun and enjoy is much better than taking it serious with no fun.
J
I am hoping that you left your finger on the 7 key too long and you didn't actually post a 177 beer night!!!
I agree with your post 100%. Enjoy the things you are doing because you are "choosing" to do them. When you make it a job and have to perform at a certain level, things get tough mentally.
I like fries too... unfortunately our diet doesn't allow them often enough, so we have been baking sweet potato fries (DELICIOUS!).
Enjoy the rest, its well deserved!
Plan B makes for better blogging too. Love the suit in the pic. Fries are my favourite food, it's been ages since I've had some, after this month's challenge I'm all in for some fries..
I couldn't agree more with the Plan B approach. Plus, you leave room for drinking beer with plan B.
I have taken things super serious leading up to and during a race, and things just turned out not so good, it was too much like work, and I hated it in the end.
After that dreadful race, I decided I just want to relax and have fun at my next race. Which I did - I did a shot of beer at mile 25 in Vermont City Marathon (and ended up with a PR). Who knew the goodness that beer could bring?
Well I hate to say this, but people read your blog because you are a colourful person. It stands to reason that your training should reflect that for you to have fun. What is life without enjoyment?
Plan B, we could have told you... ;)
Wow, what an inspiring post! Reading this as a newbie triathlete, I have learned a great lesson...and now I am more excited than ever to continue my training! If only my stomach would feel better...grr.
life is to short to take ourselves serioulsy all the time! THanks for anawesome post and great advice to aspiring IM's! Make sure and take time to smell teh roses along the awesome journey! Cheers
B-
I think your Plan B helped me turn the corner??! haha, I am feeling some sort of renewed enjoyment in my training this week.
Plan B - I like it!
Curious about IMSG in transitions previously you have used "ensure" did you use it again? appreciated the detail of what your intake was in the review a couple days ago.
Have a great weekend
~Derek
“Triathlon is a lifestyle, not just a sport. It's a journey, not just a destination. “ wiser words have never been spoken. "PLAN B" – that’s the way to go. Love your post.
R, that's my goal. Just missed it. Next time I'll try harder. haha.
X, great minds think alike.
J, yeah, we've lived it.
M, no, that was the month. haha. Sweet potato, yum, your making me hungry.
A, haha. I'm getting you on beers and fries. Oh, oh, next it will be cigars.
C, yup, and Plan B allows me room for everything else that's fun. haha. Vermont Marathon - Cool
JM, True. Thanks.
L, thanks. Good luck in your training. Welcome to the crazy world of triathlon.
JF, thanks, just trying to do what you do. LIVING THE DREAM
D, cool. Yes, I use ensure at every race half Ironman or Ironman. One before getting on the bike and one starting the run. It works great for me.
D, thans man.
B
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