I've recently begun wondering just how big of a role mental attitude has in performance. After running the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, I realized that anyone who "wanted" to run a marathon could do it. I also had this surprising realization after crossing the finish line at the 2005 Ford Ironman Wisconsin. At the time, I was sure that covering the distance was possible if you put you mind to it. Struggling through that brutal day, I found a voice in my head that said "Constant forward progress." When the hills on the bike killed my quads I would walk up the hills and when I could no longer run during the marathon I would walk. I'm sure if I would have reached a point where I could no longer walk I would have crawled as long as I was making progress toward the final goal - 140.6 miles from where I started that morning. But does this same mental attitude also affect speed?
Maybe it does! When I used to talk about running I would classify myself as "slow." Sure I wasn't blazing fast, but I wasn't extremely slow either. A couple of friends mentioned that I was posting some pretty decent runs. Of course, I attributed those to having a good day, having a better running cadence as a result of my cycling, any excuse I could come up with. One day I actually looked at my running and quietly said to myself, "You are fast(ish)!" Next thing I know, I ran a 1:40 for a half marathon. This only re-enforced the idea I was fast, and I started to train like I was fast. The result, I demolished my 5K PR. I have even started to use the word fast when talking about my running. The real question now is "Am I fast because I have always been fast? or Am I fast because I started to believe I'm fast?"
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Triathlete's Singles Ad
I take no credit for writing this, I found it on the Internet years ago. The scary part is how you can find a little truth to each of these. It wouldn't take much effort to rewrite this to be a Runner's Singles Ad.
I am outdoors type of person.
Really means: I train in any type of weather. If it's raining, snowing, 90 degrees w/100 percent humidity, or winds gusting at 30 mph. I don't want to hear any complaints because I will still train in it and you're just a big wuss for complaining about it.
I enjoy riding my bike.
Really means: With or w/o aero bars, alone or in a peleton, I don't care. If you can't do a spur of the moment 30 miler than you're not my type. I will let you draft, but if you can't hang and I drop you - I will see you later. I am a capable mechanic, but don't expect me to change your flats or tune your bike. You need to learn that on your own.
I enjoy jogging.
Really means: Let's run hills until we puke. I have just as many shoes as you only mine are better because they are functional and all look the same.
I enjoy dining out.
Really means: I enjoy eating out, in, or anywhere else I can find food. Don't be shy because with the amount of food I eat, you can have that main entree instead of a salad and you will still look as though you eat like a rabbit in comparison. Don't get your limbs too close though as I may take a bite out of you. Most importantly don't expect any taste off my plate unless you can bring something to the party, like more food. Eventually though if your not burning 4,000 calories a day your going to plump up and have a terrible complex due to watching me eat deserts and not gain any weight. Friends and family will eventually decide not to dine with us anymore due to my horrid table manners. Oh, and don't ask me any questions during breakfast, mid-morning lunch, lunch, afternoon lunch, dinner, or recovery dinner as it does not lend to efficient food intake.
I enjoy quiet walks on the beach.
Really means: Walks on the beach warming up into an 8 mile run and then plunging myself in the ocean for a 2 miler. If you get in my way you're going to find out what mass start is and let me assure you that you don't want to find out.
I find fulfillment in charitable work.
Really means: If I am not racing, I am volunteering and I expect you to be there along side me as I stand out in 90 degree weather for 8 hours handing out sports drink to cyclists going 20 MPH. Just stick the ol' arm out there and hope it doesn't get taken off.
I enjoy sharing quiet moments together.
Really means: It's taper time. Just back off because I am strategizing and in a pissy mood because I am worried about my "A" race and can't workout.
I am an active person.
Really means: Aside from my 40 hour job, and the 8 mandatory hours of sleep a night, 10 hours a week are devoted to me during the off-season and 20 during race season. Leaving us 4 hours. 2 of which are spent inhaling food and you not talking to me, so let's make the best of the 2 hours we will spend together on average each day. If you are a licensed massage therapist of doctor this would make the most optimal use of our time together. Nutritionist is also acceptable, but I probably already know just as much as you.
I enjoy road trips and leisurely drive.
Really means: You have your choice of Wisconsin, Idaho, Florida, Arizona, Utah, Texas, New York, and Kentucky, but don't expect to do much site seeing. If I get enough support from you we might be able to include Hawaii in there.
I enjoy site seeing.
Really means: Let's grab a mountain bike and get our HR's up to 90%. There's plenty of time to look around on the descent as trees and bushes whiz by you at 40 MPH.
I like stimulating conversation.
Really means: While we are running, we can talk about food. Then we can talk about how we decided what to wear on this run based on the temperature at the start versus the temperature at the time we expect to finish, how horribly out of shape we are, how many miles we did last week, and how many we will do this week and next week. Then we can talk about food.
I enjoy relaxing soaks in the tub.
Really means: I'm going to stop on the way home and buy two bags of ice, throw them in the tub with some water, and sit in this torture chamber for 30 minutes.
I'm interested in photography.
Really means: My camera is permanently perched on a tripod in front of my trainer. I obsess over taking photos of my bike position and analyzing them to get the perfect setup.
I'm into technology.
Really means: My HRM and bike computer are my best friends. Until you can give me some hard data that can improve my training don't bother trying to buddy up to me. You could one day break into the top three if I find you as entertaining on long runs and rides as my MP3 player.
I am outdoors type of person.
Really means: I train in any type of weather. If it's raining, snowing, 90 degrees w/100 percent humidity, or winds gusting at 30 mph. I don't want to hear any complaints because I will still train in it and you're just a big wuss for complaining about it.
I enjoy riding my bike.
Really means: With or w/o aero bars, alone or in a peleton, I don't care. If you can't do a spur of the moment 30 miler than you're not my type. I will let you draft, but if you can't hang and I drop you - I will see you later. I am a capable mechanic, but don't expect me to change your flats or tune your bike. You need to learn that on your own.
I enjoy jogging.
Really means: Let's run hills until we puke. I have just as many shoes as you only mine are better because they are functional and all look the same.
I enjoy dining out.
Really means: I enjoy eating out, in, or anywhere else I can find food. Don't be shy because with the amount of food I eat, you can have that main entree instead of a salad and you will still look as though you eat like a rabbit in comparison. Don't get your limbs too close though as I may take a bite out of you. Most importantly don't expect any taste off my plate unless you can bring something to the party, like more food. Eventually though if your not burning 4,000 calories a day your going to plump up and have a terrible complex due to watching me eat deserts and not gain any weight. Friends and family will eventually decide not to dine with us anymore due to my horrid table manners. Oh, and don't ask me any questions during breakfast, mid-morning lunch, lunch, afternoon lunch, dinner, or recovery dinner as it does not lend to efficient food intake.
I enjoy quiet walks on the beach.
Really means: Walks on the beach warming up into an 8 mile run and then plunging myself in the ocean for a 2 miler. If you get in my way you're going to find out what mass start is and let me assure you that you don't want to find out.
I find fulfillment in charitable work.
Really means: If I am not racing, I am volunteering and I expect you to be there along side me as I stand out in 90 degree weather for 8 hours handing out sports drink to cyclists going 20 MPH. Just stick the ol' arm out there and hope it doesn't get taken off.
I enjoy sharing quiet moments together.
Really means: It's taper time. Just back off because I am strategizing and in a pissy mood because I am worried about my "A" race and can't workout.
I am an active person.
Really means: Aside from my 40 hour job, and the 8 mandatory hours of sleep a night, 10 hours a week are devoted to me during the off-season and 20 during race season. Leaving us 4 hours. 2 of which are spent inhaling food and you not talking to me, so let's make the best of the 2 hours we will spend together on average each day. If you are a licensed massage therapist of doctor this would make the most optimal use of our time together. Nutritionist is also acceptable, but I probably already know just as much as you.
I enjoy road trips and leisurely drive.
Really means: You have your choice of Wisconsin, Idaho, Florida, Arizona, Utah, Texas, New York, and Kentucky, but don't expect to do much site seeing. If I get enough support from you we might be able to include Hawaii in there.
I enjoy site seeing.
Really means: Let's grab a mountain bike and get our HR's up to 90%. There's plenty of time to look around on the descent as trees and bushes whiz by you at 40 MPH.
I like stimulating conversation.
Really means: While we are running, we can talk about food. Then we can talk about how we decided what to wear on this run based on the temperature at the start versus the temperature at the time we expect to finish, how horribly out of shape we are, how many miles we did last week, and how many we will do this week and next week. Then we can talk about food.
I enjoy relaxing soaks in the tub.
Really means: I'm going to stop on the way home and buy two bags of ice, throw them in the tub with some water, and sit in this torture chamber for 30 minutes.
I'm interested in photography.
Really means: My camera is permanently perched on a tripod in front of my trainer. I obsess over taking photos of my bike position and analyzing them to get the perfect setup.
I'm into technology.
Really means: My HRM and bike computer are my best friends. Until you can give me some hard data that can improve my training don't bother trying to buddy up to me. You could one day break into the top three if I find you as entertaining on long runs and rides as my MP3 player.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Racing Conundrum - Ironman or Boston
About a month ago I sat down and figured out what my 2011 race schedule was going to look like, at least the "A" priority race. At that point I had chosen in River to River Relay (April) and Ironman Arizona (November). Of course there were a couple of other races that were penciled in. I was looking at applying for a lottery slot to the Ironman World Championship (October) in Kona, HI. If I was fortunate enough to get selected I would need to complete a Half Ironman or longer by August so I also penciled in Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida (May). These choices made sense back then.
When I plugged my half-marathon time from May (1:40:04) into the VDOT calculator it predicted a 3:28 marathon and McMillian predicted a 3:31. Both of which are around 20 minutes away from Boston Qualifying pace - 3:10. Of course last weekend a friend of mine at work suggested I run a 5K that is held in his subdivision so I could set a 5K PR that wasn't part of a triathlon. I completely exceed my expectations for the 5K and ran a 19:55, which is much faster than the predicted time from my half marathon. After punching this new data into the calculators VDOT now predicts a 3:10 and McMillian predicts a 3:14, both indicate the possibility that I could Boston Qualify. There is no need to remind me that a half marathon is a better predictor than a 5K, but my half-marathon was run in May and the 5K, 6 days ago.
This leads to the conundrum: Do I continue on my path to return to Ironman as a triathlete or do I change my focus and become a runner to qualify for Boston? I do see the irony in asking this question since my last post was asking the question if anyone can qualify for Boston if they make it one of their goals. I don't expect to qualify in my next marathon, (possibly Disney in January if I become a runner) but I can start heading down the path to qualify.
When I plugged my half-marathon time from May (1:40:04) into the VDOT calculator it predicted a 3:28 marathon and McMillian predicted a 3:31. Both of which are around 20 minutes away from Boston Qualifying pace - 3:10. Of course last weekend a friend of mine at work suggested I run a 5K that is held in his subdivision so I could set a 5K PR that wasn't part of a triathlon. I completely exceed my expectations for the 5K and ran a 19:55, which is much faster than the predicted time from my half marathon. After punching this new data into the calculators VDOT now predicts a 3:10 and McMillian predicts a 3:14, both indicate the possibility that I could Boston Qualify. There is no need to remind me that a half marathon is a better predictor than a 5K, but my half-marathon was run in May and the 5K, 6 days ago.
This leads to the conundrum: Do I continue on my path to return to Ironman as a triathlete or do I change my focus and become a runner to qualify for Boston? I do see the irony in asking this question since my last post was asking the question if anyone can qualify for Boston if they make it one of their goals. I don't expect to qualify in my next marathon, (possibly Disney in January if I become a runner) but I can start heading down the path to qualify.
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