Down Time
Spent today at the zoo. No running, no biking, no swimming, and no freaking out about Steelhead. It was a good day.
Off and on I caught myself thinking about life after this race. The off season will be right around the corner, the weather will start to lose steam - heh - literally, and things will warm up in other ways with the holidays approaching. Everything will slow down, and I think that I'm just about ready for that. Funny how much all of this takes out of you - it's been quite a year.
Aside from this coming weekend, there's one more long sprint tri in early September for me, and then the LaSalle Bank Marathon in early October. After that there are a few 10Ks here and there, but that's really it. This is actually just about right, as I can feel a downshift in momentum coming up soon. After Chicago it will definitely be time for the next stage.
I've decided that I'm going to spend the winter polishing up my form all around. In fact, there's a masters swim team that's forming here and I'm thinking about joining for the winter. It'll be nice to have a coach on deck, and basically that's kind of the only reason I'd join - I really can't see myself as a competitive swimmer anytime soon. Ha, but this time last year I never would have guessed that I'd be ready to race in a half-Ironman, either. So, who knows - anything can happen.
Also, I'm definitely going to add Yoga back into my routine - man, this winter is so going to be about being quiet. Writing, running when there aren't 10 feet of snow on the ground (as I just hate the dreadmil), sitting in front of fires, reading, writing some more, and balancing out the fever pitch that has been the spring and summer training.
Today I also thought about going back to a vegetarian diet for the winter. I did that for several years -all the way through college and grad school and really felt great. But it just so happened that I was the one out of 1000 women who had morning sickness all nine months, and the first three months the absolute only thing that would stay down was a Burger King Whopper. Um, yeah, OK...probably too much information, hmmm? Anyway, that's the only thing that interrupted my veg lifestyle. Once the season starts up again I doubt that I'll maintain the vegetarianism, but for the winter it would be a nice detox.
OK, so it seems that as of today, my off-season goals are to slow down, to reflect and to refine. And I really like the sound of that.
I've learned so much, and I'm going to be happy with this year.
In fact, now that I think about it, I already am.
Off and on I caught myself thinking about life after this race. The off season will be right around the corner, the weather will start to lose steam - heh - literally, and things will warm up in other ways with the holidays approaching. Everything will slow down, and I think that I'm just about ready for that. Funny how much all of this takes out of you - it's been quite a year.
Aside from this coming weekend, there's one more long sprint tri in early September for me, and then the LaSalle Bank Marathon in early October. After that there are a few 10Ks here and there, but that's really it. This is actually just about right, as I can feel a downshift in momentum coming up soon. After Chicago it will definitely be time for the next stage.
I've decided that I'm going to spend the winter polishing up my form all around. In fact, there's a masters swim team that's forming here and I'm thinking about joining for the winter. It'll be nice to have a coach on deck, and basically that's kind of the only reason I'd join - I really can't see myself as a competitive swimmer anytime soon. Ha, but this time last year I never would have guessed that I'd be ready to race in a half-Ironman, either. So, who knows - anything can happen.
Also, I'm definitely going to add Yoga back into my routine - man, this winter is so going to be about being quiet. Writing, running when there aren't 10 feet of snow on the ground (as I just hate the dreadmil), sitting in front of fires, reading, writing some more, and balancing out the fever pitch that has been the spring and summer training.
Today I also thought about going back to a vegetarian diet for the winter. I did that for several years -all the way through college and grad school and really felt great. But it just so happened that I was the one out of 1000 women who had morning sickness all nine months, and the first three months the absolute only thing that would stay down was a Burger King Whopper. Um, yeah, OK...probably too much information, hmmm? Anyway, that's the only thing that interrupted my veg lifestyle. Once the season starts up again I doubt that I'll maintain the vegetarianism, but for the winter it would be a nice detox.
OK, so it seems that as of today, my off-season goals are to slow down, to reflect and to refine. And I really like the sound of that.
I've learned so much, and I'm going to be happy with this year.
In fact, now that I think about it, I already am.
posted by Wil at 8:17 PM
12 Comments:
You will be ready for a quiet winter: time to rest and time to reflect upon your accomplishments. Sounds good!
Why do I suspect that your "slowing down" will still be somewhat akin to a tornado ripping across Kansas?
Hmmmmm?
~~
But then, hey, tornados have their slow times too, right.
:)
Say it ain't so! You can't slow down! Hehe! How are the long runs coming for Chicago? 14 is on the plate here tomorrow. Run Good!
it all sounds so good. you sound so healthy right now (physically and otherwise). you are ina good place wil.
and just so you know, my first pg, wendy's double stack cheeseburgers... all i could eat for the first three months. we're so much alike! :)
Excellent perspective on things. Glad you were able to relax (for once) :)
Another tri, some 10K's, and the Chicago MARATHON "...but that's really it."
Uh, yeah. :D
Did you miss the word marathon in there? Is this what happens when you train for steelhead, the marathon becomes another easy long run?
Egads, woman. You need to start looking at ultras or all this stuff is going get darn boring really quick!
Or a full ironman! Whoohoo! More running, but fewer dogs. :)
Slow down??? Nope not for you...aren't you signing up for IMWIS in Sept??? LOL
Don't go vegi! I'm no expert, but don't you need protein to keep your muslces? You wanna have those finely tuned muscles still available next srping. If you want to "detox" I like to do only fish and chicken as my meats for a while. I don't know. If you saw me it would be obvious I don't know what I'm talking about. "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
You're smart to think of shifting gears as your tri season wraps up, but slowing down? It'll probably only be slowing down in the sense of slowing down tri training while ramping up on other things in your life. ;-)
Yoga is a great idea. As for the veggie thing, I know some runners and triathletes are vegetarians, so it can be done. Personally, I consider myself "semi-veg". I get my protein from yogurt, cheese, beans, tofu, etc on ordinary days and eat fish, chicken or the occasional bit of lean beef on hard training days, such as long run day. I figure my body really needs a bit of extra protein on hard days and it's easiest to go straight to the source.
Something to consider. I know you'll do your research on whatever you end up doing!
Burger King now has an awesome veggie burger. It's just a Morningstar Farms pattie, but they add their special sauce, cheese and pickles. At the store, Sunshine burgers are much better than Morningstar Farms.
There are so many protein-rich, tasty veg foods .. I've been vegetarian for 14 years and it's never hurt my training - by avoiding the mystery hormones in meat, it's probably helped it.
Good luck!
Methinks the Wil is tapering. She has a bit of Steelehead overload and considering the other side of the road scenery. Whatever it is you'll find a balance. Just stop daydreaming about winter on the last day of July!
The off-season! It can't get here soon enough, if you ask me! Your plans sound very peaceful and tranquil. I'm going to start asking *you* for off-season advise. ;)
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