The Return

Holy Crap, I can't even remember my last post. So here comes a quick update on the Racer's world. After taking a long two weeks off of real training I haved returned. I had what I consider, for me, to be a breakthrough speed work out late last week. I thought that I had lost all of my speed, but I was wrong, I just forgot how to use it. This workout came at the gym on a tread mill of all places. Oh, I forgot to mention, I am now a proud member of Gold's Gym. There will be no more chasing lap swims from school to school to get in a work out. Anyways, back to the speed work. Easy warm up followed by a six minute mile that felt really easy followed by four quarter mile repeats with a quarter mile jog recovery between. Nothing special right? Well, I did the first two 1/4's at 5:15 pace no sweat. The third was at 5:04 pace and the last at 4:50 pace. It's been years since I ran quarters like that. I forgot that I could run that fast. I forgot what it feels like to run that fast. It feels good. I am starting to think that it is more my frame of mind that has been holding back my speed than my actual fitness or ability to run fast. I have been focusing on such long endurance that I have forgoten how to run short distances.

So, after coming to this conclusion I have decided not to race another half iron this fall. But instead I am going to try some short races and try to run some fast times in a few road races. I would really like to run a 5K sub 18min. Don't know if I am there yet, but by late fall I may be close.

I was trying to begin the planning for Ironman Zurich training for next year and I began to think that a step away for pure tri training for a few months will help keep me focused when the time comes to put in 20+ hours a week swim, bike, run. I still plan on keeping up with all three disciplines, but I think that I am going to focus on the run, and keep the swim and the bike as my relaxation days. This plan may change, I am not very decisinve these days!

Racer out!