Eyes On The Prize

    Today is the Clackamette Cove Triathlon. I feel I should be there, it is my "local" event, and The Cove is my watery home away from home where I do all my open water training. Thinking about the event this morning, as well as the triathlon at Blue Lake two weeks ago, and the events that are coming up in the next month or two I realized that I am not into this sport for the competition with others, I am in it to compete against myself. It isn't so much a sport as it has become a lifestyle. For me, at least this year, it is not about getting to do a number of small events throughout the summer, it is about continually striving to be better tomorrow than I am today, all the while looking ahead to the ultimate challenge. I have made the decision that am indeed doing the Epic 250K, I'm not even considering doing the 70.3 that I did last year. Maybe that is the problem with pushing boundaries, once they have been pushed I look around for new boundaries to push even harder. It is hard for me to want to repeat a major event, kind of a "been there, done that" attitude. I do miss the fun of the adventure runs, and next year they are definitely going back into the roster, but as for the mundane road races, I don't know that I will do many of them. As I see events come and go, especially races I have done in the past, there is a certain wistfulness, but I look ahead, Eyes on the Prize, and know that right here, right now, my training is too focused to be distracted by taking time out of my schedule to race them properly. And, in a statement that makes me feel as if I am sounding frail and paranoid, I don't want to risk an overuse injury from pushing myself too hard at the wrong moment and possibly derailing my training. I did that last year, several times, and suffered the dire consequences during my A Race. This year, with a bigger, tougher challenge awaiting me, I am feeling the need to coddle my body, not take any unnecessary risks, and get to the starting line well trained, well rested, and ready to beat the holy hell out of my body for 12+ hours. So as the small events come and go, I squelch the little voice that wants to go compete, and instead sit back, plan out my uninterrupted training schedule, and keep my eyes on the prize.

Training Trumps Real Life

    As the season progresses, and I have to spend more time training, time management is always on my mind. I find I am having to prioritize in ways I never have before. Oh sure, in the past I have had to adjust my life to make room for hobbies and projects, but this is different on many levels. Not only do I have to try and eke out more minutes in my day for training, my training is reaching the point where I need to have recovery time as well. Yes, I can do lightweight work when I am fatigued from a major training session, but the time will come when I will likely have to sleep to recover, not mow the lawn. I am training 14 to 18 hours a week, as well as working overtime at work on a nearly daily basis, this does not leave a lot of spare time for things like writing, reading, or a social life. So far, I have managed to find some balance, at least between training and keeping my home somewhat in order. "Somewhat" being the key word here. But as the season progresses I will be spending more time training, especially on the weekends, therefore spending less time on pretty much everything else except for work. This is where Training Trumps Real Life. I have to allow myself to train enough hours to succeed, and not feel too much pressure to keep a tidy home and garden. Yes, I am planting plenty of fruit and vegetable plants which will take a certain amount of tending, but I feel that is essential for my health, so actually falls under the auspices of the Fourth Discipline: Nutrition. What this boils down to is a furious need to get my affairs in order before training hits its full head of steam. This is why I have been having manic bursts of activity, trying to get my house and garden in order before summer is upon me, and with it time sucking training sessions like 8 hour bike rides, and 3 hour brick workouts. This won't be easy, but then nothing worth while ever is. I'm gearing up, mentally preparing myself, getting my home squared away, because soon training will trump real life, and all I will be able to do is grit my teeth and go with it. Now, for the Fifth Discipline, the one I am poorest at: Sleep.

Gear For Thought

    As my training season progresses I am starting to think of the new gear I will likely need between now and September. I have already ordered new training tires for my bike, since my current Vittorias are pretty thin. I am getting Vittoria Rubino III Wired tires, since they get excellent mileage, and are puncture resistant. In late July I will order my Continental Grand Prix 4000 S tires so I can have a month or so of ride time before my race.
    Tires are just the beginning, though a vital beginning. I will need new running shoes by then, my Sauconeys are holding up okay, but they will be pounded down soon enough. I can't afford to not have good foot protection. I have decided to race in Sauconeys, they are zero rise but offer some padding to absorb the pounding of running on pavement. That is why I bought my current pair, and they have done right by my feet. Yes, I do prefer a minimal shoe for trail running, but this year I am having to be more event specific in my training, so trail running is on the back burner for now.
    My cycling shoes are in sad shape. I bought them used at Next Adventure, and I do love them, but a certain dog, who's name will go unmentioned (*cough* Sadie *cough*) loves them too, and they are showing that love in a missing strap and some teeth marks. I am hoping to find another pair of Shimanos at Next Adventure so I don't have to pay full price. Cycling shoes are a little easier to buy used, I think, since they don't take quite the abuse of running shoes. I plan on looking into custom insoles since my feet will start to hurt after a few hours on the bike.
    Cycling shorts are on the list as well. My favorite pair are getting a lot of use and I don't want to be riding 138 mile on mashed down padding. They will be a little harder to replace, I've realized I'm pretty specific when it comes to fit and padding in my shorts. And fit and padding are vital if I don't want my delicate girly bits getting beat to hell.
    I still need the proper stem so I can change out my handlebars. I have an awesome pair of ergonomic bars just waiting to be installed, but they won't fit my current stem. I am still debating getting a shorter stem to bring my arms in a bit, but in all honesty I can spend a lot of time on my bike very comfortably. In long course triathlon comfort trumps aero to a degree. My bike handles well, I am comfortable, and get good power in the way I have it set up now, so I kind of hate to mess with success. Yes, I want the new bars because the one thing that starts to hurt are my hands, so I want/need to get the new bars installed with new padded tape.
    The wish list can get vast if I let it: new aero bars, better gloves, bigger bento box (this is actually important, I need to be able to pack enough fuel), new seat, padded tape, Under Armor underwear (actually, kind of important to avoid chafing), Body Glide (also to avoid chafing), socks, shirts, water bottles, a water bottle rack for between my aero bars with a tube so I can drink without taking my hands off the bars. The list could go on an on.
    Even being a budget triathlete can be a very expensive endeavor. I haven't even paid my race fee yet, since I am waiting to know if I can complete the longer distance. I am becoming more certain with each passing week, although my running keeps getting derailed with injuries and aches. My cycling and swimming right on course, and those are essential, especially the cycling. But 138 miles, g'damn, that is a long ride.