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Monthly Summary – February

Here’s February:

Swim: 18,350 yards
Cycling (outdoors): 149.50 miles
Cycling (indoors): 13:00 (hours)
Run: 62.0 miles
Strength Training/Yoga: 7 sessions

Approximate monthly total training/racing time: 40:45 hours

Weight: 167 pounds

This was not my best month. Nothing specific really went “wrong”, but nothing really went all that “right”, either. Even though my back has been slowly, slowly getting better, I was constantly aware of it being “off” throughout the month. And despite the fact that I keep telling myself that it’s not affecting my training, that’s only true in that I haven’t been letting it affect my training volume. I don’t think I’ve been training at the same level of intensity as I would be if not for the fact that my back pain is always in the back of my mind. And even the amount of training I’m doing feels like a revised volume from what should have been in my annual plan for the past few weeks. Those things: the nagging aches, plus fear that I’m not training enough or not training hard enough are affecting both my confidence and my determination. I’m still doing the training and I still push myself and concentrate on the tasks at hand, but I don’t feel – physically, emotionally or psychologically – like I did last year at this time. I’m not as excited or ready or plain up to the challenges ahead. Maybe it’s winter blahs. Or maybe I’m romanticizing last year’s training. I’m not getting a triathlon test until Harriman in May, so it’s a long way off until I’ll really be able to see how I’ve done.

Add to that the fact that work has been pretty stressful of late (not because I’m working hard – no way! – but because of some changes and uncertainties surrounding my boss), I haven’t been sleeping very well. I’m generally able to fall asleep, but I’m waking up in the morning more tired than I’m used to. Last year I was out of bed and ready to train, during February, it was more of a struggle.

I know it’s foolish to make comparisons, but in February 2007, I did about four more hours of training than in February 2008. That’s not a ton of time, but I feel like I should be training more this year than last. (I also trained almost seven hours less than I did in January.) I want to improve and, in my head at least, there’s a direct correlation between hours of training and physical fitness. Also, in early 2007, I was running races all the time and running them fast. I’ve lost a fair amount of that speed, and while all that speed didn’t help me during the Ironman marathon (!) last year, it still weighs on me when I try to figure out how ready I am for IMLP 2008. Next Sunday I’m doing a 15K in Central Park. I’m going to go hard, and maybe, hopefully, I’ll be happily surprised. With Boston looming on the horizon, I’ve got to test my run fitness and could use a burst of confidence.

I had an evaluation with a physical therapist last week. It went well and the guy I met with was very nice and seemed really competent. That being said, I’m still deciding whether I’ll go back. I’m not convinced it’s a good use of my time. During the eval, he asked where it hurt, when it hurt and if certain movements or motions made it hurt more. But the problem is that it move around, doesn’t hurt all the time and doesn’t consistently react to this motion or that one. I think he was as confused as I am. If I gave it enough time, I’m guessing we could figure out where I needed to work, but I’m not feeling all that patient. I’ll decide tonight if I’m going to go back to him. Either way though, I’m going to keep training and stretching and icing and pray for the best!

My parents were in town this weekend and we had a great time hanging out. I ate very well and we spent an afternoon at the Guggenheim, seeing “I Want to Believe,” a fantastic exhibit of the art of Cai Guo-Qiang, a Chinese artist who specializes in working with gunpowder. He does work on canvas, where he uses gunpowder to burn images into the media, he also does massive public art displays and has put together amazing, unique fireworks shows, like creating a rainbow of special black fireworks over Valencia, Spain in 2003 (picture above). He also does sculpture and interactive art. The videos of his past works were really amazing. It was a great exhibit, especially for someone like me who normally isn’t such a museum person.

I spent almost six hours on the trainer again this weekend. Damn winter!

Yoga – February 25

Run – February 26
Distance: 11 miles
Time: 1:20
Average heart rate: 151
Course: West Side Highway
Conditions: High 30’s, overcast, some wind

Strength – February 27

Indoor Ride – February 28
Time: 1:15
Average heart rate: 129

Run – February 28
Distance: 5.75 miles
Time: 47 minutes
Average heart rate: 138
Course: All over lower Manhattan
Conditions: Cold (mid-20’s), clear, some wind

Swim – February 29
Distance: 1,800 yards
Time: 31 minutes

Brick – March 1
Indoor Bike
Time: 3:30
Average heart rate: 119
Transition: 4:58
Run
Distance: 4.25 miles
Time: 35 minutes
Average heart rate: 147
Course: West Village, West Side Highway
Conditions: Cool (low 40’s), overcast

Indoor bike – March 2
Time: 2:15
Average heart rate: 114