Thursday, July 10, 2008

Blahs

I feel fine. Just sluggish. Can't shake it. I don't feel particularly tired. Been sleeping okay. Eating like a champ. Not too sore. Okay, my arms are a little sore from all the swimming (~8,000 m/week) but nothing out of the ordinary. My training plan says I'm not due for a recovery week for 2 more weeks. Checked my volume and it's not too high. But I still feel blah. However, my training plan says the last several workouts I've done have felt sluggish. And my times have slowed down. Frustrating. I feel like I'm working verrrry hard for very little outcome. I swim as fast as I can and am sure I'm going to set a new WR. When I hit the wall, it IS a new record--STE (Slowest Time EVER). Same thing happening on the track. And on the bike...puh-lease. I don't even want to talk about it. I can't even muster the power to feign an attempt at speed. All I can do is spin. UGH!

I know I probably should take a day off. But I did that Monday! I know, I know. Another day off. (But I don't want to, she whines.) I almost skipped my evening bike ride yesterday. I couldn't tell if I was suffering from an afternoon slump or if I was really tired. So I decided to get on the bike and assess after 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, I felt great. So I hammered down the coast for 10 miles before turning around and hammering back into a headwind like it was nothing (20 mph avg out, 18 mph avg back). Guess I still do have the power. Sometimes. Course the cup of espresso might have helped too.

This morning, I hopped back into the pool for more. (Guess Terry's 3,000 meters yesterday didn't teach me a lesson). My arms were tired. But I had a breakthrough--she told me to keep my fingers closed during the pull part of the stroke and focus on keeping my arms straight during the first part of recovery (instead of swinging back over my back and twisting all about). All of a sudden, I was swimming faster with the same effort! So I hopped in the pool at 7:30 (late, I know) and began chipping away at Sickie's workout with tired, weary arms. I was trying my best to pretend I was Dara Torres as I crawled (bad pun, I know) down the lane. Extend from the lats, front quadrant, close fingers, arm up straight from hip, almost out, quicker turn-over, no, don't shorten stroke, twist from core...no wonder I was tired! All-in-all I felt pretty good, especially during the 600 meters (the longer, the better--I wish he would give us 1,000 m straight).

At the end, I introduced myself to a girl I didn't recognize in my lane. She responded by saying she remembered me from one time before. She then commented that I was faster since the last time we had swam together. That just made my day! I'm still grumpy but maybe not quite as much.

13 comments:

Backpacker said...

If I weren't so secure in my own slummy training habits, I'd say you're making me look bad. Good job on the swim breakthrough!

Unknown said...

Gotta love it when you have a breakthrough like that. It must make up for some of your sluggish feelings, right?

teacherwoman said...

well, I am no where near you physical abilities, but I am slowly learning that when I feel sluggish there is something missing from my diet.... usually not enough water and protein. I have been working really hard to watch that lately. You're doing a great job!

Kevin said...

It sounds like you are pushing it real hard. Great job on the breakthrough swim. Sometime you just have to push through the blah to get to that breakthroug

Steve Stenzel said...

Good luck shaking the blahs. Just give it a few days, and you'll get through it.

Sara said...

the blahs suck! But nothing you can train or rest through!

And good going on the breakthrough, especially in swimming!

Shan said...

well, I'm right there with ya lady! The last few weeks I've been uber stressed at work and as a consequence I have zero energy for workouts. I've decided to throw away my training plan for the rest of July (and potentially all the races for the rest of the year so I can focus on graduating). Time to relax, enjoy the beach and have fun at workouts rather than feel like I *have* to do them...

It might be time for a real break!!!! If you're ever in the mood for some coffee or fro-yo, let me know! (oohhh, that rhymed...) :)

Paul said...

It's the little things that count! It's been a long season for you. Maybe a break is a good idea.

Kewl Nitrox said...

8km of swimming a week? I know a lot of folks who don't even walk that much. :-)

Sherry said...

Who in the world invented the blahs and why did he/she give them disproportionately to triathletes? LOL!

Even as a newbie, I know the feeling, Rach. Looks like you did the best you could to turn those blahs around. Hope you're on an upswing this week. :o)

triguyjt said...

look at you,....

bigtime fishie....

cool that you had one of those "eureka" moments....

good job

Sherry said...

Slightly off topic, but I forgot to mention it in my comment yesterday... remember how you had the bodymarker lady from hell at one of your last tris? Well, she must have moved to Florida! My bodymarkings this past Sunday were so horrendous that I actually had other athletes LAUGH at them! Ugh! Anyway... guess what will be in my transition bag from now on?? :o)

Benson said...

Blahs never last.
It's just part of the training phase.

super nice of that girl to acknowledge your swimming prowess.
Good on ya
let it flow.