Today I have lost my voice, literally, and I know there are some people around here who are thrilled. No yelling, nagging, singing, cussing. This virus has not, however, affected my fart capacity. That end is still going strong.
Things that are hard about losing your voice:
- It is hard to whisper road rage like, “WTF are you doing a$$hole?” while driving down the road.
- People you just meet think you are either very meek or mute. Sometimes they start using sign language. I don’t know sign language except for my ABC’s and the middle finger.
- The dog never comes when I do a yelling whisper. What is his problem?
- I can’t sit on my back porch and heckle the golfers, “Your balls hang left!” Or some other reference to balls. Working “blue balls” in somehow is the best.
ANY REMEDIES TO GET MY VOICE BACK? <- That is me yelling.
Question of the day from a reader, Marilynn: “I was wondering last night if you miss a running-only training schedule. I love that you've gotten into this triathlon training routine and what you're sharing about it but do you miss the days when you just run (almost) everyday? Maybe you can do a post on triathlon vs. plain old running training?”
I’ve actually thought a lot about this, because the two forms of training are so different.
My first love is running and as is the case with any first love, you want to “do” it all the time. Plus, logistically it is way easier to just run than to try to plan even workouts in running, biking and swimming. Not even to mention the gear involved in doing all three sports. Don’t even get me started on swim paddles, CO2 cartridges, tubes, towels, goggles, fins, and swim diapers. The planning for this type of training is ridiculous.
That said, like with anything, you get into a groove. Preparation is everything. Every Saturday I sit down with my calendar and various half ironman training plans. I come up with a time goal for the week and the types of run, bike, swim workouts I want to incorporate. I put it all into a fancy red and yellow spreadsheet and hang it on the wall. I put an extra copy in my gym bag in a Ziploc bag so I can have it with me when I swim.
The gym bag is essential. It makes grabbing and going at 6am much easier. Inside I have: two bathing suits, two pairs of goggles, iPod, iPod case, Clif bars, water bottle, towel, paddles, workout plan, pasties, thongs, etc.
As far as “do I miss the days when I just ran?” the answer is “sometimes.”
- There is something very pure and simple about training for just one sport and putting all of your energy into excelling at that one thing.
- Running feeds my soul. At the beginning of half ironman training in May I had a tough mentally (and physically) giving up some of my running and replacing it with swimming and biking. At first I did not enjoy those activities as much. However, as time has gone by and I’ve gotten stronger on the bike and in the pool and I’ve gotten more acquainted with those types of workouts, I’ve really embraced the multi sport thing.
- My body has adapted to the increased training hours and the variety of workouts, as our amazing bodies will. When you only run, you only use certain muscle groups, so adding in biking and swimming has created muscle, tone and strength in new and interesting areas!
I’m sure I’ll keep doing triathlons after this, but not at all sure I will do a long distance one again. This is purely because of the amount of training time and planning involved. If all I had to do everyday was train, that would be one thing. But I have two jobs, two kids, volunteer work and marriage to tend to as well. I’m sure my friends would like to see me one day again too.
And, to be honest, I miss my friend, the marathon. We need to get re-acquainted again soon. We might have a date in the fall.
When you shift your training and you are not running as much (either due to injury, time off, or other training goals) how does it affect you mentally and physically?
Now that I’m deep into my HIM training, my physical and mental well being is spot on. I still run enough to get that runner’s release, but am enjoying the challenge of the other disciplines. It feels good to be doing something different and to be challenging myself in a new way.
SUAR
