Long Winter

It’s been a long winter!  I’m not one to complain about the weather.  In fact, complaining about the weather is one of my pet peeves.  What can you do about it?  So why complain?  To be a bit hypocritical though, I’m longing for some warm weather.  The past many years, we have managed to escape New England in February or March to some warm weather for a small hiatus.  We skipped this year due to a big trip Lisa and I have planned for our 10 year anniversary – we are going in late May to the Canadian Rockies.  Yeah, probably more cold weather!  We are staying in Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise and it looks amazing.  So I think missing that winter warm weather trip might be the culprit for my tiredness of the New England cold this year.

I’ve been getting in some decent training though.  I’ve been quite consistent with my running, cycling on the computrainer, and strength training.  Swimming will begin soon – I promise!  I have been training, practicing, studying, teaching, coaching exercise physiology and, in particular, endurance training, for 16 years now.  One practice that I cannot preach enough is the importance of consistency, especially in the base building phase of training. 

The Sunday group runs have been great.  I’m quite surprised more people don’t take advantage of running with a group on some great courses and having some great conversations over coffee afterwards.  I have found some cool new courses that offer everything –  uphills, downhills, trails, flats, …   As soon as the snow and salt begins to disappear from the roads, I plan on marking these courses well.  You don’t have to be coached by me to participate in these runs.  The more the merrier. 

Two common threads of mental observations I’ve noticed with athletes that I work with; many are lacking motivation presently – I think this is a result of the long winter combined with them mentally feeling behind in training at the moment, which is the second one.  These are usually the same people who freak out over having one bad workout, or missing a day of training.  Triathletes are so driven and such excessive people who put tremendous pressure upon themselves that most want to feel race ready year round.  This is not only unhealthy, but also hardly possible.  I have a two-week rule.  If you have been feeling unmotivated and/or behind in training, give yourself two solid weeks of consistent manageable, but challenging training.  It’s amazing how two weeks of this can make you feel like a different person.  If you feel you are in this situation, try my two-week rule.

My motivation is coming from a few things.  I’m excited about spring, which I know will be right around the corner.  I’m excited about getting out there for an early Saturday morning ride where the sun starts to feel warmer, and you peel clothes as the sun comes up and brings this warmth.  I’m excited about turning the clocks ahead in a few weeks and having long days.  I’m also focusing on half IM’s and International Distance races this year, so the change in training strategy is fun.  I’m curious to see how my speed will be after focusing on long course racing for the past bunch of years.

I’m looking forward to a bunch of events this year.  The first will be my Connecticut Camp.  I have already planned some new, exciting surprises and, although this camp has an unbelievably successful track record, this will be the best one yet. 

Next will be our Canadian Rockies vacation.

Then, I will venture north to New Hampshire to race an Olympic Distance race, and get a qualifying time for nationals.

Then comes the Cleveland Camp.  This camp will, once again, be a blast.  It’s always fun meeting new people who are enthusiastic about the sport, and I also have an old friend, Rudy Sroka, who is an absolutely incredible cyclist, assisting Ange and myself at this years Cleveland Camp. 

Next comes the Tupper Lake Tinman.  I’m taking the whole family up and staying in Lake Placid.  I love Saturday races!

Then, I’ll race the Griskus Sprint.  This is my favorite CT race, and I haven’t done it in awhile.  I’ll be gunning for my fastest time ever there.

Man, all these events and I’m only in early July!  Other planned trips for the year are attending IM USA and coaching my athletes that are racing there, Nationals, Timberman, the Vermont Ride, either Survival of The Shawgunks or ½ IM nationals, and attending IM Florida – where I have a bunch of athletes competing.  I’m sure I’ll throw in a few more races where I can, so, it’s sure to be a quite busy year.

So once again, the journey is on.  It’s exciting to think about where 2005 will take me.  I’m all about experiences, and I think it’s really important to step outside the typical routine, maybe raise the bar in a different way, and learn something new. 

OK, enough daydreaming about warm weather training.  Time to log some more miles on the computrainer.

Cheers,

EH