Training can get boring. Its easy to lose motivation in the winter as well. Right now its 24 degrees outside, heavy cloud cover and an inch of snow on the roads. While its no day for being on the bike, it is a great day to take advantage of the cross training in my schedule.
As a youth, I was a swimmer, and a really good one at that. I swam competitively from 10 years old through high school then at the club level in college as well. So I always look forward to this time of year when I'm not just riding a bike. This week I got back in the water for an hour swim and have a swimming session a week planned for the next few weeks.
I'm also running a little bit. I hate running, but a few things have made running a bit less torturous for me. I committed to a 5k race on Thanksgiving day with my nephew and I'm getting a trail run in each week with my wife. Trail running is loads of fun and really isn't close to the pavement pounding pain I experience when running on the road. Not to mention all of the other benes from trail running, like core strength and working all the little muscles needed to balance while running on a technical trail.
Cross training also breaks up the monotony of putting hours and hours on a bike. It make winter training much more fun. I get to train a little with my wife and the pool gets some much needed attention.
All this cross training and a new found tolerance for running has gotten me thinking "tri" again. I've always wanted to do a triathlon but again, running sucks. But I think it may be time for me to at least try and sprint triathlon or two. I do have a long term goal of completing and Ironman, so I guess this would be a good start!
Is it possible your hate for running is misguided? After all, if your gait is not efficient, if your run training has not been accurate, or your not strong at the right places couldnt those be the culprits and not running itself? Hmmmm something to think about since running a marathon at the end of a ironman would require quite the run training. The thing I think about is the VO2 max of running is so much higher than the VO2 max of biking or swimming so year round running would translate to better biking. Not to mention the progress towards ironman itself. Need any help w that, just let me know!!
ReplyDeleteThe focus currently is bike racing, so all I do now is to succeed with my goals on the bike. But that Ironman is out there somewhere!
ReplyDeleteGet on the skate skis Ben. Absolutely nothing better for training the cardiovascular system and Nordic skiing is an entire body workout, especially the core. Many elite cyclists cross train this way. There is a learning curve for sure (it takes years to get really good) but you will reap the benefits right away. Besides, it allows you to enjoy nature in the Winter, which most people don't get to see. Believe me, you won't be cold!
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