Not-So-Very-Off-Season

    It is the Off Season. My races are done, there are none on the near horizon, and no solid schedule yet. But truly, I do not allow an off-season, and triathlon does not allow for one either. It is said, "Races are won in the off-season." This is when I can further hone skills, increase my speed and stamina, focus on my weak areas. I am increasing my running, which is undoubtedly my weakest discipline. Not so much distance, but intensity and frequency. Since I still have to guard my knees as much as possible to avoid re-injury and antagonizing my osteoarthritis I can't really do long, pavement pounding runs, but I can work on speed. A close second weakest is my swim. I can't increase the frequency of my swims at this particular point, but I have increased my distance and intensity considerably. I feel that I am becoming a strong distance swimmer, doing over 2 miles non-stop, and knowing I could do more if I had more time. I have always been a fairly solid cyclist, so that is going on the back burner for a bit while I push myself harder elsewhere, but once spring hits I will be out cycling my ass off.
    Also, the Firefighter Academy is literally just around the corner. Two weeks. Only two weeks. Yikes! But I have been diligently working on cardio, stamina, and strength, especially leg and core strength. This will be key in getting me through drills as easily as possible, and decreasing my chance of injuring myself hauling and wrestling heavy hoses, climbing, crawling and clambering around in 70 pounds of gear, and keeping up with recruits less than half my age.
    Another aspect of my Not-So-Very-Off-Season is nutrition. I am not allowing myself to overindulge in holiday tastiness. Yes, I have had a little, and did penance before and after. I am watching the scale, careful of what I put in my face, and always increasing my knowledge of vital nutrients and proper fueling. It always comes back to Rocket Fuel for optimal performance of my powerful machine.
    So my Off Season is not very "Off." As a matter of fact I think I am training more intensely now than I did during the summer. The only difference is that I don't have ass-kicking events to push me close to my limits, but then I don't have Taper Weeks and Recovery Weeks when I can take it a little easier. No rest for the Wicked.