This weekend will end the first 3 weeks of training. The first 2 weeks were a repeated introductory week and this week is not much different. The idea is to get back into a routine of training regularly, finding a workable timetable and getting re-introduced to the three disciplines plus core strength and weight training.
I am essentially following a similar training plan to the one that I had been successfully following many years ago to get me to a half ironman, however as I have extra months and am starting practically from scratch this time, I am beginning with an added 3 months triathlon foundation training block first followed by a 21 week half ironman training plan.
All that is left to do now is follow it. Each week is set out with key training sessions that should not be missed, other sessions, rest days and an occasional optional session. Although training is given for each specific day of the week, they can be moved around to suit a busy schedule as long as they are all completed between the Monday - Sunday training week. It is really as simple as following the program, listening to your body, and establishing and maintaining consistency.
In the past I have been prone to trying to make up for missed sessions by doubling up training sessions. This is a massive no-no and often leads to injury and burn out. I am determined to not make these same mistakes this time round. There will be plenty of new mistakes to make along the way, so I dont need to repeat old ones too :) Of course the key to not playing session catch up is to be consistent enough in my training that I minimise how many sessions I actually miss to start with. It is not rocket science, it is basic common sense really.
Paramount to my success, other than actually doing the training of course, is ensuring that I am fuelling my body properly with the right nutrition, getting enough sleep and recovery, maintaining my sanity and life-work-training balance so as to enjoy the journey, avoid injury, and still be a nice person. I have been discussing these things with my boyfriend who is a high level rugby union player and currently in his 20th season of playing rugby, so fair to say that he knows a thing or two about recovery, looking after your body, and getting the most out of it. Everytime we discuss training we frustrate each other as we both come from two different schools of thought and have different approaches however we also challenge each other and get a decent think tank going. I always get valuable information and support from him, even if I don't listen straight away. His help and support is definitely one of my greatest strengths in getting to this race this year, but don't tell him I said that. haha
Important to training recovery! :)
The hills are alive with the sound of nature..
Probably my greatest early discovery so far, is that I actually enjoy running without my ipod. Who knew? Initially I was dreading going without it as I thought it was a helpful distraction when I felt like rubbish and could drown out the huffing and puffing. In triathlon events you are not allowed to have any sort of earphones or musical accompaniment unless of course you choose to sing to yourself, which is probably exerting more energy than you need to. So I figured I had better get used to this early on and left the earphones at home. Actually I was down to my final pair of earphones anyway and had somehow managed to drop them outside of my car when visiting my parents and found them on the road the next day crushed by my own car, so kinda didn't have any left to wear anyway.
It turns out that the sounds of nature near my house are kinda cool. Running along the bay makes the sound of the water pretty nice background, especially when there is a southerly wind and there are mini waves crashing on the sand. I can also hear my own breath, which actually becomes kind of rhythmic and helpful to the running cause. My brother and I have talked about 'moving meditation' when you find running gives you a clear mind, almost meditative. Running without the background tunes actually creates that feeling more readily. This is a happy discovery for me.
Consistency, consistency, consistency, progression, consistency... but what is consistency?
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