Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Stay tune. Changes coming

I've broken the number one rule of blogging of late. What's that. PUBLISH OR DIE. Well I've been thinking of where this blog, and my internet 'life in general was heading and I've made a few calls. Changes are a'comin.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

A big move forward - coaching

A big week for me as a triathlete as my sporting life takes a big step up in seriousness. I've entered a half iron man, big deal I've entered one of those before and withdrawn, but I've also realised that I've hit my limit as a self trained athlete and gone and joined a training squad.

I'm sure there are many people out there with all the discipline required to self coach and the world sometimes seems full of lonely triathletes out there pounding up and down the pool, pavement and track by themselves but I'm not one of them, or more accurately, I now realise that if I continue to be one of them I am effectively limiting my progression quite seriously. Why is that?

1. In general I lack the self discipline to drive myself outside my comfort level for long enough in a training session. I know all about tempo run sessions, hill climbing/sprinting rides, properly structured swim sessions but when its gets hard and I'm on my own history has shown I'll back it off just a little, extend the rest just a little, shorten the set just a little. It would be great if I didnt. Theres probably a whole bunch of things I can do to build my personal will power but then again, how long would that take and does it guarantee success? On the other hand, getting a coach and training as part of a squad also has a long history (with me) of being remarkably successful. When part of a group I naturally work my arse off to keep in touch with the leaders, possibly even leading myself, even when I shouldnt.

2. Swimming. I hate swimming training. I can swim, I used to swim - A LOT! Perhaps everyone has only so many black lines in them and after you've seen your share and you're done? I dont know, but what I am certain of is that I will find every excuse I can to avaoid swimming training. But a coach pretty much demands I swim and gives him visibility of when I dont. Also, having a squad of like minded people with me also takes away some of the loneliness of just being out there by yourself trudging up and down the lanes with the public.

3. Knowledge. The internat and magazines are brilliant and I have learnt an enormous amount from them in getting from couch bound slob to an athlete that can do an olympic distance tri. Again though I feel I'm hitting a limit. I cant see myself run/swim/ride - a magazine will give me a good idea of good technique but it wont tell me how my technique compares to the ideal. I know my running especially is pretty dodgy. I have developed a few mental pointers to keep my form in some sort of control but these are designed to avoid pain, not generate speed or endurance, so while useful they only take me so far.

So far I'm one training session in and already I'm 99% sure that I will commit to training with the squad for as long as I am in Melbourne.

PS. I training session I did was swimming. My first 'session' in that sport in 20 years. It was an easy one designed to transition people back into training after the layoff immediately after the end of the Australian 2011/12 season. 3.1 k's, thats it. It killed me. Half way in and my arms were jelly, my lungs felt full of water, both legs were cramping and I could barely support my body position. Still, I made it and I know I'll get better.