This has been my life of late. Bouncing from one workout to the next. I’ve learned some really interesting things about my body and training long in general.
One, my body hates to run at the end of the day. It’s not so much the mileage or the wear on my legs but after consuming 3500+ calories a day, it feels like a garbage compactor pressing out a cube of my my previous 2 days worth of food.
Two, recovery swims are awesome. Feel like crap? Hit the water and forget about taking your watch. Just enjoy the way the water feels as it goes over you.
Three, I need to try this out a little more but having a chocolate protein shake (10-15gms of protein) on a recovery ride can help aid in recovery.
Four, sometimes the gut just wants crap. The key is to not have any in the house. If you do, you will consume all of it. Trust me.
Five, if you think for a second that the life of a pro athlete is easy (and I don’t pretend to be one) try living without your car for a week. Maybe, and I say maybe because some people do live far from their jobs/local towns, maybe you might cover the same amount of miles by weeks end as a pro athelte. I doubt it though.
Six, I use to think that pros who win races always feel good. What I’m learning is the ones that win probably feel the worst but they know how to deal with it the best. Training day in and day out is HARD. The body rationalizes and tries to make you stop especially when it gets tough. Learning to push past it mentally is a very tough lesson.
Seven, I love when you just make it indoors after a ride and it rains.
Eight, the feeling of completing a week and being able to put your feet up (at least for a couple of hours!).
Nine, being able to sit on the trainer inside on a sunny day and enjoy it!
Ten, not knowing if your body is going to respond well to all the traininig; this is probably the toughest part.
Overall I’m still optimistic. I wish sometimes I could turn my brain off and just veg for awhile. What I’m learning though above all is that training for any sport is just one big science experiment. Although most other people don’t see it that way.
Happy Trainin’
Cliff
On #1 … can’t even fathom! Maybe you need to consume more liquid calories??
+1 on #2 & 4.
On #6 … the mark of a true athlete I think!
Another +1 on #8.
#9? Won’t ever say “never” but maybe a “cold day in hell”!
Calming the brainworms? I use Bejeweled or Solitaire.