Tapering

I've read several articles on tapering that caution triathletes to lower their caloric intake so as not to unintentionally gain weight during the period of reduced activity.  I've decided whatever author wrote those words could not possibly have been a triathlete themselves.  I'm sorry, but after months of 4-5 hour bike rides on the weekends, long runs, long swims, and any weight lifting I happen to squeeze in,  my body is HUNGRY... and it does not appreciate me telling it that it should not be so.  If triathlon has taught me anything, it has taught me the importance of listening to my body.  So - I'm listening.  To my body, not unidentified authors who tell me how I should feel.

Tapering is a mind exercise, I think.  I finish my workout in the morning and have extra time because the sessions are shorter... and I think, "I could get in some weights!"  And then I remember that tapering is about letting my body rest some.  Oh - yeah.  Guess not. 

I have mixed feelings about the upcoming race. On the one hand, I've been trying to do this race for two years.  Last year I got a stress fracture in my left hip just weeks out from the race, and ended up only being able to do the aquabike.  I'm back this year to try again.  I want to prove to myself that I CAN run 13.1 miles and not injure myself.  I want to accomplish what I set out to do 2 years ago.  And I want to take the next step towards doing a full ironman.  I've worked so hard this fall, and overcome so many obstacles - IT band problems in both knees and both hips, achilles tendonitis, and being sidelined for 2 weeks due to illness.  My mom always says "overcome your obstacles" - so I kept going, overcoming each obstacle.  This is about perseverance.

It's also about learning to accept myself and believe in myself.  Will I finally know I'm really an athlete when I cross the finish line?  Somehow, I think that's something that must come from within, not without.  But I do think completing this HIM will give me some confidence in myself. 

On Time Trials and Listening

I have a new respect for cyclists, even though I consider myself one (somewhat).  This weekend was the team time trial in Gruene, TX.  We arrived Fri. night and stayed in a cabin.  Saturday a.m. was a tour ride through the hills around Gruene, Sat. afternoon was the individual TTs, and Sunday a.m. were the team TTs.  I rode the team TT on a tandem - 27 miles of pain and panting.  I thought the race would be more like spin class... it  hurts, but not so badly that you're not having a good time.  But at 7.5 miles into the race I was ready for a break and we still had 20 miles to go.   The hill at  mile 20 was the killer.... we must have climbed for almost a mile, and climbing on a tandem is a whole lot harder than climbing on my own bike.  We ended up getting 4th place for the tandem group with an average pace of 20.4 and a time of 1:16.  Not too shabby.  At least the captain was happy. 



I'm the blue blip in the back...



 

 

On another note, I am realizing yet again that people who are able to listen and take an interest in others' lives are few and far between.  I notice that the majority of conversation is one person telling a story about themselves, and it reminds someone else of something - so that next person tells a story about themselves... and the conversation goes on like that.  Why is that?  is our society so selfish that we have grown accustomed to only thinking of ourselves all the time?  Is that something that tends to come with being a Christian - the ability to inquire, empathize, and encourage another person?  Is that something that comes with emotional maturity?  I am guilty of it myself - being more interested in making sure everyone else knows how awesome and funny I am, instead of focusing on the needs and interests and desires of others.  Maybe that's what Jesus meant when he said to love others more than we love ourselves.

Ironstar 70.3 is now officially one week away.  Gulp.