Having dedicated a year of my life to training for *apparently* one of the toughest endurance events in the world, speed hasn't exactly been top of my training agenda. However, with the renewed aim to get faster, this comes down to a simple formula.
Cut back training volume and increase training intensity. That, after competing in an Ironman only a few weeks before, is pretty tough. My coach is a slave driver! In all seriousness, this is the key to gaining speed. And everyone wants a bit of speed in their life.
So the past few weeks have looked like this. Maxing heart rate zones, pushing hard, beasting sessions - all foreign stuff to me after training long and slow in a comfortable zone 2 for the better part of a year. (Apart from when I'm racing, of course!)
It's new territory to me as I haven't actually included these kind of sessions in my training before. I always hated pushing too hard - I was very much a 'train at my own, comfortable, steady pace' kind of person, but in some strange masochistic way, I am enjoying this new world of pain.
And it is painful, it requires a completely different approach to steady training sessions. It requires dedication, persistence, will, mental resolve, and not to mention energy (cue nutritionist, box ticked).
![]("http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEXsVwoivdE/Uhjd9zUI54I/AAAAAAAAAL8/4snLMURl0Vg/s320/cycling.JPG")
Bike intervals. (Shot taken during a rest interval, obviously!)
There is something very satisfying about finishing a training session which is based on quality not quantity, knowing you have pushed your very hardest and knowing that the gains will be tangible.
I think being motivated by the people who are supporting me helps me on the road to achieving my goals, but also that untapped potential. The feeling of 'what if'? I have no idea how far I can go with triathlon, but I am 100% committed to finding out. Why? Because I can. I am in a good position in my life right now to explore my potential, it's a very exciting journey and I can't wait for the challenges coming my way. Bring it on.
Cut back training volume and increase training intensity. That, after competing in an Ironman only a few weeks before, is pretty tough. My coach is a slave driver! In all seriousness, this is the key to gaining speed. And everyone wants a bit of speed in their life.
So the past few weeks have looked like this. Maxing heart rate zones, pushing hard, beasting sessions - all foreign stuff to me after training long and slow in a comfortable zone 2 for the better part of a year. (Apart from when I'm racing, of course!)
It's new territory to me as I haven't actually included these kind of sessions in my training before. I always hated pushing too hard - I was very much a 'train at my own, comfortable, steady pace' kind of person, but in some strange masochistic way, I am enjoying this new world of pain.
And it is painful, it requires a completely different approach to steady training sessions. It requires dedication, persistence, will, mental resolve, and not to mention energy (cue nutritionist, box ticked).
![]("http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEXsVwoivdE/Uhjd9zUI54I/AAAAAAAAAL8/4snLMURl0Vg/s1600/cycling.JPG")
Bike intervals. (Shot taken during a rest interval, obviously!)
There is something very satisfying about finishing a training session which is based on quality not quantity, knowing you have pushed your very hardest and knowing that the gains will be tangible.
I think being motivated by the people who are supporting me helps me on the road to achieving my goals, but also that untapped potential. The feeling of 'what if'? I have no idea how far I can go with triathlon, but I am 100% committed to finding out. Why? Because I can. I am in a good position in my life right now to explore my potential, it's a very exciting journey and I can't wait for the challenges coming my way. Bring it on.