I think it's time I gave that old cliche a rest. While I wouldn't say that I consciously train that way, I know that subconsciously almost every workout somehow seems to becomes a test. A test to see of I can go further or faster, or achieve a certain threshold. I never seem to be able to go out there and "just do it". Looking back on the last 6 months by rereading some old posts, it really hit me how far I have regressed. Times and distances that I was totally frustrated with back in Nov/Dec, now seem like a dream. That shows what all that intensity has dome for me!!
But it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Most everything I have done in my adult life has been a competition of some kind, and I find it hard to change that way of thinking. It's habitual.
Take for instance the upcoming race. I have set a goal time! What the fuck for? I truly don't care how long it takes me, and on top of that I know the best thing for me is to simply have a long, steady, and controlled workout. It's an opportunity to practice my pacing, and an opportunity to build confidence. Not in my ability to go fast, but rather in my ability to go as slow as needed.
So there you have it. I need less pain! Sounds good eh?
My swim in London went fairly well today. Certainly the Ironman swimming leg shouldn't be any kind of a problem. I was reminded during my 3 kms that last years Ironman was surely a fluke. If I can swim 3000 metres without any anxiety, or any real sense of stress to my body, then surely I can swim 3860 without feeling like I'm gonna die. That's why I still believe that I was sick last August.
And that's it for today. Bike cleaning and race preparation tomorrow.
And Mike, the generally accepted high level for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is about 4.0 mIU/L. Like I said, mine is at 9, and that's with the current level of drugs I'm taking. I have now increased the drug by half, which I'm pretty sure will still not bring it down to within the guidelines, but I'm good with that for now. When he first put me on this stuff my levels dropped too low, and I don't want to yo-yo any more. Slow but sure. I will get retested again after Ironman, and then go from there. Even my doctor thought that made sense.
Besides, based on the experimenting I've done to date, the old cynic in me tells me it doesn't have a damn thing to do with the way I feel. The drug companies would of course disagree....
swim 3000 metres. 1:06:36
"That's the thing about pain. It just demands to be felt"---Anon
...and here's a good one...
"Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self."---Khalil Gibran
Love
But it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Most everything I have done in my adult life has been a competition of some kind, and I find it hard to change that way of thinking. It's habitual.
Take for instance the upcoming race. I have set a goal time! What the fuck for? I truly don't care how long it takes me, and on top of that I know the best thing for me is to simply have a long, steady, and controlled workout. It's an opportunity to practice my pacing, and an opportunity to build confidence. Not in my ability to go fast, but rather in my ability to go as slow as needed.
So there you have it. I need less pain! Sounds good eh?
My swim in London went fairly well today. Certainly the Ironman swimming leg shouldn't be any kind of a problem. I was reminded during my 3 kms that last years Ironman was surely a fluke. If I can swim 3000 metres without any anxiety, or any real sense of stress to my body, then surely I can swim 3860 without feeling like I'm gonna die. That's why I still believe that I was sick last August.
And that's it for today. Bike cleaning and race preparation tomorrow.
And Mike, the generally accepted high level for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is about 4.0 mIU/L. Like I said, mine is at 9, and that's with the current level of drugs I'm taking. I have now increased the drug by half, which I'm pretty sure will still not bring it down to within the guidelines, but I'm good with that for now. When he first put me on this stuff my levels dropped too low, and I don't want to yo-yo any more. Slow but sure. I will get retested again after Ironman, and then go from there. Even my doctor thought that made sense.
Besides, based on the experimenting I've done to date, the old cynic in me tells me it doesn't have a damn thing to do with the way I feel. The drug companies would of course disagree....
swim 3000 metres. 1:06:36
"That's the thing about pain. It just demands to be felt"---Anon
...and here's a good one...
"Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self."---Khalil Gibran
Love
Peter
No pain, no pain!
ReplyDeletePain is overrated. Believe me, I know from where I speak! I'll be watching on Sunday. Slow and steady....
ReplyDeleteLove, gail