 |
| wordle.com Have you ever had one of those workouts when everything just seems to come together? When your nutrition is spot on? When your body feels strong? When you end the workout feeling great instead of worn out? Well, this past weekend, I had an absolutely awesome training day! I had a 5:15bike/1:00run brick to do. The weather was going to be perfect, unlike last weekend, so I was excited to do this outside. I met up with my friends Bine (she's doing IMFL), and Kathleen at Dare to Dream. Bine brought along another girl, Julie, who is doing IMFL too. It was a little chilly when we headed out, but non of us complained because we were just grateful to be outside riding. I have really been focusing on my nutrition for my long bricks because they're really the only workouts that kind of simulate race day. I am pretty positive that I have my nutrition down and I'm sooo happy! I know that nutrition will be a MAJOR factor for me at IMAZ!! So, one of my goals for this workout was to test out my nutrition again. We were all keeping a good pace and having a great ride! We basically did an out and back, and the ride was going really well until the turn around. At this point, the winds really started picking up. The place we were riding is basically out in the middle of nowhere. PLUS, there is no shelter from the wind because there are just wide open fields all around us. So, when the wind picks up, it's tough! Julie started dropping further and further behind. She was just having a really difficult time with the wind. At first we were riding at a slower pace so she could kind of keep up with us, but eventually, we had to make a decision of what to do. Bine had a little powwow with her and Bine, Kathleen, and I just decided to keep going. On one hand, I felt bad leaving her behind, but on the other hand, these bricks are my big training days and there's a point when you have to do what's best for you. Plus, the whole reason why I get up so early to do these bricks when the sun comes up is so I get home at a reasonable hour and still have time to spend with my family. I still felt really bad, but we all knew going into the ride that we would be dropped if we couldn't keep up. But still.... What would you have done? Anyways, we kept on keeping on and I felt really strong! We were pushing the pace, because we all needed to get back, but it was tough out there! At some points, we were pushing it and only going 13mph!!! The last 10miles were the worst! We had to climb lots of rollers and my legs were really feeling it! I was a little worried about how my legs were going to do on my run, but I just tried to focus getting done with the bike. Finally, we reached our cars! Woohoo!!! Now, it was time to get ready for the run. I did a semi-quick transition and headed out for my run. Right from the get go, my legs felt great! I looked at my Garmin and saw that I was running around an 8:00 pace. Woah...better slow down! BUT, I tried to slow down, but my body just wanted to go! So, I stopped looking at my Garmin and just started running by feel. I could tell I was pushing myself, but I felt good! I got to the 30min. mark, then turned around and headed back to my car. I kept waiting to hit some sort of "wall," but that never happened. I think I had a smile on my face throughout my entire run. :) I got back to my car and just spent a few minutes soaking it all in! I felt great. I felt strong. I felt confident. It was an awesome feeling! :) These types of workouts make all the cruddy ones soooo worth it!  |
October 17, 2011
Confidence Boosters!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
26 comments:
Awesome job! Love that type of workout.
I think you summed it up when you said that you all knew you would be dropped if you couldn't keep up. Personally, I hate holding people back. I would feel worse knowing that a group was going slow and compromising their training for me then I would getting dropped. It sounds like she was okay with it.
Awesome. ANd I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. So excited for IMAZ:)
Wow that wind sounds brutal. I would have done the same thing and kept going. You are at the peak of your training and have your eye on the prize! Glad you felt so good, that must have really made you excited and confident about IMAZ!
Oooh I don't know about the dropping thing... but way to go on your workout! Those rides into the wind can be so demoralizing but the fact that you kept going and kept positive seems to say that you'll be ready for IMAZ!
Wow awesome brick! That is a great feeling to have during your point in your training, good job!
Wow! Great, great brick! This bodes VERY well for IMAZ. Sounds like somebody is ready to me.
I think if everyone has agreed at the start then you are ok to let them drop... I also say this because no one wants to be the person holding the group back
Nice job out there. Way to go. A while back I changed my Timex to just read elapsed time and forget the pace because I would do exactly that and pull back thinking I couldn't keep going. Not necessary to think that especially if your body is telling you something different. Great job.
I would have let her go as well especially if that discussion was had before hand. I had ridden with two or three buddies this training cycle and I'm faster than them and they have all told me to keep going and they'll catch up at the car when we start the run.
We want to be a group but this is individual as well.
Again, great job.
Awesome! It's nice when a plan comes together!
I love that kind of day - they are just the BEST! They are truly confidence builders! Nice job!
I had a race like that this weekend...it was such an awesome feeling and gives me confidence that maybe, just maybe I can do this whole marathon thing!
nice training! and great pace
crunchtime keep at it!
I am just so excited for you and Kathleen!!!
If I had been that Julie, and I have been that Julie on rides, I would want you to go ahead. I hate when people have to wait for me. Even if that was the plan going into a ride I still feel guilty for being so slow.
I LOVE that you smiled all through the run!
Awesome Aimee! Days like that are total confidence boosters that show off you have been doing the work. Keep it up!
As for leaving her behind, you gotta train like you are going to race. You only get some many days like this, and being selfish just needs to happen. Otherwise your race is gonna suffer!
For future reference if you ride in a group like this again, discuss beforehand if someone drops back what you all with do. Saves the awkwardness later. Its also a big reason why I do all of my big training days alone. Also helps you mentally prepare to be alone with your thoughts for 6+ hours.
YAY! Days like that are awesome deposits in the confidence bank!
And you made the right choice to keep going without Julie. This is a training day for you and she probably would have felt weird to have you all slow way down and compromise your workouts for her. :)
I am always the "Julie" struggling on the bike, but thankfully so far all my rides with other have been purely for fun. I am STOKED you had a fantastic run after...8mm?? Holy cow girl, you are getting faster and faster! Very excited for you!! :)
So good to feel so strong! All the hard work you put in...sometimes it's thankless - hold on to this feeling. Oh, and I would have done the same as you - time is precious and you are closing in on your race. Maybe send her a note and make sure she made it home okay. :)
Yep... you're ready.
Awesome pictures and great workout! I totally agree with you. If it weren't for workouts like this I would have stopped running long ago.
Nice job! Love a good confidence building workout like that. You are getting so close and you will be ready!
And ugh--hate the wind on the bike!
A workout like that does amazing things to boost your confidence. Nice job!
What a great workout!!!
RE: leaving Julie behind. I've been that Julie before. It's hard being dropped.
HOWEVER, this new Julie of 2011, was a lot stronger and I had to make the decision at some point to hold back with teammates (which is where my heart is) or to get MY workout in as I needed to for my race. So this year, I did what "I" needed to do. I think things go in phases. Right now, you are in a phase where you need to do what's right for YOUR race! There will be lots of times when you aren't in IM training that you can stay back with people and help them get through tough rides.
That is so awesome! I am glad that you are having some confidence building workouts. The training is coming together and you are going to kill IMAZ!
Being a slower rider, I have been in Julie's position. I have always taken the stance that I wouldn't want to hold anyone back during a ride especially if it was established before you started riding that not everyone would stay together. I think the situation would be different if you were out for a social ride and not in the heart of IM training. I think you made the right decision. Sounds like you stayed out of the drama and did what you needed to do for you in the nicest way possible.
Yay for having an awesome brick. You're going to do so well at IMAZ I know it! I can't wait to hear all about it.
Question for you, when you have time to answer...are you following the plan with going by time rather than by a set distance? For me, I think it'd be hard for me to feel prepared by doing a 5 hour ride knowing that 112 miles would probably take me closer to 7+. Are you feeling good about going off of time?
You are ready!!! Cant wait to hear about it
Congrats - aren't these kind of workouts the best?!
I think you did the right thing with the group ride. I think as long as you all agreed on how to handle differing paces/dropping before the ride, you're good. You have to prioritize your time and your training with IM AZ right around the corner... you can always do some casual, no-drop rides in the off-season!
wow girl, sounds like a great workout, I can't believe your widget say s only 33 days!
As for getting dropped, if I was the one getting dropped I would have wanted you to go. I would have felt worse ruining your ride than I would bout being left. Some rides are about doing it together and others aren't, that's just how it is. No need to feel bad.
Post a Comment