Thngs have gone steadily downhill over the last two weeks. After my panic attack in the lake, I got ill. While I was ill, the free-floating anxiety returned. Somehow, a cut has developed under a couple of toes on my right foot, making it occasionally difficult to walk.
Does this happen to people? You train and train and train and then, two weeks before the race, everything falls apart? It can't be. That wouldn't be right.
I've probably trained too long. Looking at my log, I think I peaked about a month ago. Now, my IT bands are tight as piano strings. My knee starts to give in at 4k when I'm running. And -- since I've lost some fitness having only been able to work out four times in the last two weeks -- I can't get to 400m in the pool anymore.
I'm developing a strategy to get through this. Next week is critical. Getting back up to distance for the swim is Job 1. A couple light runs and bike rides, nothing too hard. If I don't finish the swim, my performance in the other two is immaterial. Then show up rested and zoned in.
So. If you're in your mid-40s (leave me that illusion), you haven't worked out in 20 years, and you haven't been living the healthiest lifestyle, it appears that about 14 to 16 weeks of five-day-a-week workouts is probably about optimum. This is definitely salvageable. But if I knew then what I know now, I'd have done it differently.
I'm taking the week after the race off. Annual camping trip with my daughter. And just relaxing and not working. Or working out. Maybe a trail run or two. Short.
Then I'll decide whether to enter a 5k trail run in my home town for October.
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Life happens, and when it does I say rely on adrenaline! Ha.
ReplyDeleteI too went on my first swim in actual Lake Ontario this week, and while it was mostly frolicking, not so much swimming I'm a little more comfortable with the idea. Up here (Port Hope and Cobourg) it is pretty shallow really far out, so I figure that's alright...unless they make us start really far so we have to swim in deep water? That won't make me too happy.
But, I was surprised, it wasn't too cold (making me question the necessity of the wet suit apart from additional buoyancy), clear and sandy bottom. Overall good experience.
Take time to really recover and you never know, you might feel stronger than ever in time for your race day.
I like to live by the motto, KSSA, kick some serious a**. Even if it is your own!
Good luck!
Thanks, Fargo. I do feel better. I have a plan. I hit a couple low points with my swim in training and I'm going through my log to see how I came back. Next Saturday's gonna be just another training swim. Just with lots of other people. In a lake. KSSA yourself, bud. When's your race?
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