Objectives for this year
It’s a bit like being in school: I think of my year as being the period between runnings of the Ironman Wisconsin triathlon!
I DNF’d on September 9, 2007, and I will be in Lake Monona at the start on September 7, 2008.
In the seven weeks since my DNF, I’ve decided on five objectives for this year, in more or less this order.
First, I must learn to suffer. I’ve never been big on suffering. If a work-out is difficult I’m inclined to step out of it, rationalizing that I don’t want to be injured. But I’m learning that pushing the envelope of my performance means that I must suffer—especially on the bike. (On the other hand, I have to be careful: this last week I’ve been suffering from a cold; after it abated I worked out a few times, and now I’m laid up again.)
Second, I need to improve my time management, with respect to working out. That is, there’s still much “training to train” I can do. The off season (i.e., now) is a good time to try out some of my ideas. One of them, for instance, is to do my work-outs as soon as I get up, at 5 a.m. Eastern Time—and then reward myself with my much-loved cup of coffee.
Third, I need to improve my technique, in all three disciplines, but especially swimming. Coach Steve and I met on September 29 and he had some useful critiques of my technique, but barely improving my swim stroke will take twenty minutes off my Ironman swim time, with no other changes. Coach Kelvin said he agreed with all of Steve’s comments.
Fourth, I need to get to the weight room twice a week at least. I blew off weight training last year, and I don’t think that helped in Wisconsin.
Fifth, I need to lose some weight. Getting under 170 pounds (on my 5'10½" mesomorphic frame) seems pretty reasonable.
I DNF’d on September 9, 2007, and I will be in Lake Monona at the start on September 7, 2008.
In the seven weeks since my DNF, I’ve decided on five objectives for this year, in more or less this order.
First, I must learn to suffer. I’ve never been big on suffering. If a work-out is difficult I’m inclined to step out of it, rationalizing that I don’t want to be injured. But I’m learning that pushing the envelope of my performance means that I must suffer—especially on the bike. (On the other hand, I have to be careful: this last week I’ve been suffering from a cold; after it abated I worked out a few times, and now I’m laid up again.)
Second, I need to improve my time management, with respect to working out. That is, there’s still much “training to train” I can do. The off season (i.e., now) is a good time to try out some of my ideas. One of them, for instance, is to do my work-outs as soon as I get up, at 5 a.m. Eastern Time—and then reward myself with my much-loved cup of coffee.
Third, I need to improve my technique, in all three disciplines, but especially swimming. Coach Steve and I met on September 29 and he had some useful critiques of my technique, but barely improving my swim stroke will take twenty minutes off my Ironman swim time, with no other changes. Coach Kelvin said he agreed with all of Steve’s comments.
Fourth, I need to get to the weight room twice a week at least. I blew off weight training last year, and I don’t think that helped in Wisconsin.
Fifth, I need to lose some weight. Getting under 170 pounds (on my 5'10½" mesomorphic frame) seems pretty reasonable.
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