Saturday the tough

Tough training day today. Not that the hours were long, just that the motivation wasn't necessarily there. I love days like this, though, as they really test my mental toughness. I've learned a long time ago that all the talent in the world can't make up for being a headcase. If you're going to get out there and be consistant, regardless of the sport or job or whatever, you've gotta have that mental toughness to say 'things gotta get done regardless of how I'm feeling'.

I wish I had learned this lesson earlier, but I guess now is as good a time as any. Luckily, I'm not quite yet past my athletic prime (although I'm knocking on it's door in a big way), so I think I can still use the lessons I've learned to my advantage.

Today started with a speed workout in the pool. 2800 measly yards. Nothing right? Well, I really had to do some soul searching to get it all in. The warm-up by itself was just an easy 1000 yards. Simple-worked on stretching out and getting into my stroke. Then came 16 sets of intervals ranging from 100yds to 50yds. By the time I was into my 200yd cool down, my shoulders were cooked, my traps were shot, my lats were screaming, and my lower back was on fire. Great day!

So then it was home and onto the rollers for a nice and easy 2-3 hour ride. Ok, so I've been training quite a bit indoors lately (again working on some mental toughness), and have come to love the control factor that comes along with being on a machine and not on the road. No cars or unneeded stops to get in the way of keeping my Heart Rate constant. I really feel that I get a better and more concise workout this way. However, being in the mental state in which I found myself today, after about and hour indoors cabin fever struck. I HAD to get out! There was no negotiation. I got off the rollers, hopped into some tights, threw on the jacket and the beanie and was out the door for another hour and change. By the time I came back there was frost on my eyelids (it's 20 degrees here, 8 degrees with the windchill), my fingers were basically useless on account of the numbness, and I had a HUGE smile on my face! Good times! While I'm jealous of all the people out there that can train in warm climates all year long, I don't feel bad for myself. I've grown a little tougher for all the cold workouts and near hypothermic situations I've put myeslf in. I hate the cold but I've definately learned to embrace it.

So that was today. I got in what needed to be done and now I can do it all again tomorrow! Like I said, it's not a lot of hours, it's just getting done what needs to be done, and that's something we can all do, regardless of if it's triathlon, work or whatever.

Push 'till ya puke...Always.