Sunday was another guilt-free indulgence day. I knew I was starting Ironman training today and I let myself eat and drink anything I wanted. I had fish and chips, wings, potato chips, ice cream, beer and movie popcorn. It was the four food groups; salt, grease, sugar and alcohol. How come the stuff that is so bad for you, tastes soooo good?
This morning I weighed in at 183 lbs. As strange as it sounds I didn't mind being in the 180's, even though I loved standing on the scale and seeing 178 lbs. Being heavier made me feel that my body is getting back to normal. I also figured a LOT of it is from water retention.
I did a weight training session at lunch time. Even though I only did 1 x 15 reps for every exercise, my legs and buttocks felt it. Especially after the lunges. Once finished, I felt great. It was the first time I've ever gotten an endorphin rush from weight training. I felt alive!
Today's weather was 9 C, not great. I bundled up, put on bootees and gloves and forced myself out to do my moderate ride. After 30 minutes I was mentally getting sick of the ride, I wasn't prepared to continue doing cold weather riding.
Looking back, I didn't think I'd be training right now, I thought I'd be resting after a great race in China. That I'd take a few weeks off and by the time I started up my IM Lake Placid training it'd be warm out. So much for the "best laid plans of mice and men".
The cold and the wind was depressing me. I just kept focusing on cadence and heart rate and pushed through. Twenty minutes later I was feeling better. It felt like my first ride of the year. I can't believe how much fitness I've lost in only 2 weeks. I was okay for the first 2 hours and for the last hour I was getting tired and it didn't take much to get my heart rate up.
What kept me strong was thinking about having a nice "cold beer" and barbecuing some steaks when I got home. I'm committed to eating well, and even had a salad for lunch, but I'm not going to deprive myself of beer. That vision of having a cold one, kept me going. It was like a carrot on the end of a stick. It didn't disappoint either, it tasted so good.
After the ride, my legs and core felt weak. I haven't felt this way in over a year. I think the food poisoning did more damage than I originally thought. My legs are already much more tired and sore than they were after the first full week of Ironman China training.
I'm hoping this tired and sore phase won't last long. Even more important, I hope the weather gets warmer soon. I am so "sick" of cold weather training. My focus right now is to get back to "training enjoyment". I want to feel strong and powerful in my mind and core and I know the only way to do that is to be mentally positive.
My ideal is to show up to St. George feeling healthy and optimistic. Forget about Kona, I just want to be strong enough to enjoy this race. I'd be suffering if I had to do the race right now. I can't remember the last time I felt this weak. It's like I'm starting over.
I had a minor mishap today. My water bottle cage broke. It was on a country road with very little traffic. When it broke, I looked to see what happened and out of nowhere a school bus had to veer around me as I started drifting. I may not feel strong, but I am feeling lucky.
Weights - 30 minutes
Mod Bike - 3:00:10 / 88.72 km / 29.55 kph / 134 avg hr
183.2 lbs / 21.9% BMI
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7 comments:
Want to get that endorphin rush everytime you weight train? try 60 minutes with my trainer.. she'll even wear the hat! Good to hear you're back at it.. the beer AND the training. Nice one!
But what kind of beer?
A, I couldn't go with your trainer, I'd be too focused on her butt and not what I'm doing.haha.
I'm picky. I drink Amstel Light and Coors Light.
And if I get really drunk, I'll drink anything. Or if there is no Amstel or Coors, I'll drink what's available. Like I said, I'm picky, but beggars can't be choosers.
B
B
Summer will be there soon. We can feel winter is coming and it's coming fast.
Glad you enjoyed the beer after your training.
Told my family the hamster/foot story when we BBQ and the laughed so much, tought it was so funny.
How's his foot, has he taken a bath yet.
J
J, glad you liked the story, I wasn't sure if I wrote it "funny" enough, as it was. We couldn't stop laughing either. And yes, he's taken a bath. But even before he did, once we got rid of Roxy, miraculasly his foot stopped smelling. haha.
B
I need a hot trainer ... I think I would workout a lot better ;)
I hear you with the winter crap. We just had two inches of snow Friday. They are already gearing up for racing down in texas and florida already!!!
Good luck getting back into it after your recovery week! Keep drinking beer, it is the key to happiness!
I agree with the previous comment, drinking beer is the key to happiness. Speaking about beer, I found this quote, presumably attributed to Benjamin Franklin: "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria." . :-)
The Weather Network says that on Friday and Saturday the temperature will be in the 25 degrees. I am sure that your bike speed will increase dramatically once you get to ride your bike on perfect sunny day. Just like it did when you went to California.
M, I'm with you brother, let the snow and winter go. At least my system thinks it summer, it's getting some brewski's.
D, Love the quote, need to print that one up and put it under the Rooselvet quote. I hope your right about the weather, I don't even care if I'm fast, so long as I'm warm. haha.
B
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