Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Embracing the New...

The last couple of weeks have been insane (as proven by my lack of posting in over a week!). Christmas prep, closing out work for the year, and then the holidays themselves. Christmas was an insanely fun day, but exhausting just the same.

Christmas Madness! 
Rockin' my Skirt Sport dress on Christmas! 

Trying to fit in workouts is never a small task, especially when it's school vacation, and you've completely over scheduled yourself on "vacation" (I am the WORST when it comes to that!).

I'm on a running program that is very different than anything I've tried before. I have made the commitment to stick to the plan (and therefore each prescribed workout) 100% - I'm never going to know whether or not this new way of training works for me if I'm sneaking in extra "illegal" runs here and there just to see my weekly mileage numbers look prettier. I'm not going to lie, it's not easy. Breaking the mold of something you've known for your entire running career, and putting all of your faith in something new, is damn hard. Running so easy that you feel like an elderly speed-walker could mow you down? Hard. Running a;prescribed pace thats close to marathon pace, but you know you could do the run faster if you were allowed? Hard. Reigning your HR in when you feel like a rockstar, just so you don't get punished by being confined to the treadmill? Hard.

I asked to take one more shot at my 5K PR in January, and then also asked if I could race a silly hard 16 miler as well. I got shot down for both, each for a different reason. I wanted to be angry, but the rationale coach put behind it made too much sense for me to get upset. If I want to execute successful goal races, I can't be toeing the line for every race that sounds "fun". Is it hard to not be able to "play with my friends" at these races? Yup, sure is. Is it easy to be able to say "no" when asked if I want to do XYZ race, when usually I'm the first one to tag along? Nope.

My goal has been to embrace the new - I need to be 100% in or out if I want this to work. And not be 100% in grudgingly, but actually wanting to execute every run as outlined in my training plan. Some days I look at my calendar while scratching my head, wondering why a certain workout is what it is. But my job is not to over-analyze, it is to go out and execute each days work, and let my coach do all that coaching voo doo stuff behind the scenes (seriously, sometimes I envision her as the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz). I have to believe in the plan, and trust that I'm going to come out the other end stronger, more confident, and faster.

As I head into 2012, I am embracing my new training style-  I have a few key races lined up that I am VERY excited about, and every day's workout is with those races in mind. I'm happily leaving behind a year of not so great racing behind, wiping the slate clean, and looking forward to some fast, confident running in 2012.

Happy Training!


14 comments:

  1. I can't wait to hear how this new training works for you. I had to go back to my old training style as all the experimenting did nothing for me.

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  2. It sounds like you have a good coach that's integrating some zone 2 work. Also I love your attitude towards your training =)

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  3. Wow, your training schedule sounds so intruiging!! And I bet it is going to pay off in spades, even though it is completely new and different for you. Kudos to you in going for something different and out of your comfort (training) zone!!

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  4. Hang in there. Sticking with my usual training plan until my fall marathon where I'm going to shake things up to focus on speed - scares me a bit. Love the dress!! So who did Santa bring the bike to?

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  5. Well I've been on quite the slide (the wrong way) the past 2 years w/ my "tried and trued" training. I'm excited about what 2012 has in store for me!

    Kathy - the bike is mine :) It's been safe and sound on it's training, in the family room, since my 70.3 in September :)

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  6. Smart yes. But boo totally!!! Come and cheer me, yes you should do that! hehe :) hopefully we can do some training runs soon please

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  7. I don't think you will regret the restraint, as hard as it is!

    And are you going to share the 2012 key races with your public? :^) Enquiring minds want to know....

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  8. Coach seems to have a point there... darn it! I sruggle with that too - wanting to do every race that sounds fun - don't want to feel like I am missing out. Excited for your 5k PR race! Time to get it done :)

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  9. I'm sure coach is setting you up for a killer 2012. Trust in the system and good luck!

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  10. I'm really excited to see what you'll do this spring. Trying new things usually turns out better than you'd even expect!

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  11. I love this mantra for 2012 - embracing the new. SUCH a great way to go into the year with a clean slate, ready to ROCK it like nobody's business. It's gonna be a GREAT year, friend, I just KNOW it.

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  12. Obeying a HR-based training plan is SUPER hard. I know exactly what you mean. But fear not, you'll just have that much more energy when it's time to bust out some stretches of Z5! Hope it all works out well for 2012.

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  13. I'm quickly learning that coaches have a method for their madness and we have to believe in it! :) You've got this girl!

    LOVE the dress!

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  14. you look so cute in the dress! love it!

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