Triathlon Training Is A Dream Once You Add Pasta

Last updated on March 25th, 2013 at 02:42 pm

Heather post workout - makeup is gone, and I'm sweaty, but survived!

Post spin class - no makeup and the shirt is soaked, but survived.

Did you know that when you are heavily into triathlon training you might get pretty hungry?

I am not afraid of food. After losing 80 pounds my comfort level with knowing when I’m hungry is still intact. What isn’t is adjusting to this new craving for large amounts of carbohydrate. Piles of pasta may just be my new dream!

After a week spent fighting off a cold/flu/allergies junk, I am still exhausted from getting better. Starting back on full triathlon training schedule was brutal.

I researched three different triathlon training schedules to put together my own workout plan to get ready for this race. In 8 short weeks.

Triathlon = 3 sports in one race

You know when you are focused on your dream and you get that tunnel vision? Everything make sense and falls in place with ease. This training schedule breaks my focus. Regularly.

With any one sport you can realistically and safely plan on working out 3-5 days a week. Three days on your sport – running, cycling, swimming, etc. – and two days cross training on anything but your primary sport. The goal is to give your muscles a rest so they’ll be ready for the next workout.

Training three sports all at once, as with triathlon’s swim, bike, and run, is tricky.

Don’t Get Tired

The title of the first chapter of triathlon coach Rick Niles book “Triathlon Training Made Easy” makes it pretty clear. Don’t get tired.

What the heck do you do when the training is truly knocking you out?

The past week has been a blur of new training. My husband has been nudging me on the couch by 8:30 pm because I nodded off. About Thursday last week the craving for carbs kicked in. And the guilt over adding calories came right along with it.

I know that you can not simultaneously lose weight and build strength. My intense craving for more carbs proved that something had to shift.

Here’s how my week breaks down, working out every 12 hours. Might be why I’m sleepy.

Obviously there’s a ton more detail to my workouts. Intensity and duration variations, strength building and cardio options, but here are the basics.

Monday

6 a.m.: Bootcamp workout
5:30 p.m.: Spin class
This class was an addition this past week and was a bit of a shock to the system. First I had the surprise that it was an hour long class – Whoohoo! The more amusing part was the complete lack of leg strength after the class. Thank god there were handlebars to grab onto while getting off the bike.

Tuesday

6 a.m.: Run
5 p.m.: Performance Swim class
This is the third week of this class taught by Rick Niles, the triathlon coach I’ve mentioned before. The drills on speed are a killer and I can honestly say I’ve never felt sweaty after swimming until now! That and learning actual swim strokes, like the butterfly, without drowning is totally entertaining.

Wednesday (Repeat Monday)

Thursday (Repeat Tuesday)

Friday (Repeat Monday… again)

Saturday

7 a.m.: Swim
12 p.m.: Long run

Sunday

11 a.m.: Bike ride in the real world

I may be doing too much

The triathlon training countdown continues and I keep on trucking. Why push myself so hard? You fellow dreamers may just know the answer to that yourself. You know just as well as I do why we push so hard. These dreams of ours won’t make themselves without our hard work from us.

I have to send a special thank you to fellow dreamer Maria for her heartfelt post and wonderful Spicy Noodle recipe. It was exactly what I needed to get me through.

What are you pushing yourself on this week?

Go get your fit on – Heather