Awesome!!! Sunny weather! Sunshine is a big deal this time of year when you are from Northern New Jersey where the grey industrial cityscapes of NYC and Newark dominate the view for about 99% of the time from November through January. I'm visiting sunny Tucson Arizona for some great winter training and relaxing. If you have not yet visited Tucson, you should get here with your bike for one of the many triathlon camps. It's great. The city is one of the best winter and early season training locations in the US. There are cyclists everywhere and the training opportunities are endless. This week, I put in several 4-hour rides and 3-hour trail runs in addition to swimming and strength training. The temperatures have been in the high 50's to upper 60's and it's easy to go for a run in a sleeveless shirt and feel comfortable. People from AZ think it's cold...not me. Woo hoo! The city is extremely friendly to cyclists and hill riding is prime. Go to Mt. Lemmon for incredible views and killer climbing. It is 25 miles of uphill riding to reach the village of Summerhaven. While ascending, watch the snow on the sides of the road this time of year get deeper and deeper as the miles pass by.
Today, I am 'spent.' I am tired and very satisfied with my winter training that I've done this week. My first race this year is four months away and right now, and I am concentrating on building strength, endurance and momentum to kick off the year.
Each year between Christmas and the New Year, I do some very challenging, long-duration training to start off the new year with a blast of energy. What I find valuable, and you may too, is to put in a few days of high-volume training before I start to build regular structured intensity into my program. It's cool to determine how things go after the brief period of unorganized training that takes place during the off-season. With the base I have built up over the years, it's hard to lose a great deal of aerobic-endurance base during the one or two months of low-key training (thank goodness) and since I'm so rested, the longer rides feel incredible...I feel as if I could ride forever.
So, during this holiday week, out in Tucson, I decided to kick up the volume for a few days to check the endurance engine. I didn't overdo it, but it's hard not to get out there and ride for 5+ hours day after day though. Besides enjoying the views in Tucson, I also get very caught up in some longer training for a few days before the start of the new year because, while I train this time of year, I enjoy thinking about the past race season and I like to finalize training plans for the next year. As you know, there are some great benefits to taking time to focus on specific goals and priorities. You may enjoy it too. It is good to get out on a long ride or run and just get inside your own mind…alone. Checking the gauges, seeing what's strong, what feels like it needs work. Training alone for some long hours a few days in a row to clear thoughts, regroup, reconnect, listen to signals, think and plan is great. It's positive and productive to think about what went right last year, what did not go over so well and what to do differently in the upcoming season.
I'm really into the desert. Did I mention Tucson is great? The desert environment is so clarifying for me because I find the landscape pristine and calm, but it is also an austere environment. It's simple yet it can be harsh. The
surroundings help me to re-sharpen my focus and determination in a serious and demanding but peaceful, healthy and very connected way. The desert environment is so quiet that when you stop riding or running, all you hear is the wind and birds. There are few distractions. It's a great place to clear away the 'noise' from the previous season and to make room to concentrate with full efforts on future plans. One thing about the desert though. Don't fall, everything is sharp! Everything. The cacti and the rocks! Yeee-ouch!!!
As I ran today, I realized that I am ready to ramp up the 2008 season. I spent these past few days taking inventory of my skills, technique, strength, past races and future training and racing. I AM ready. It's Go Time...100%. OK, enough of the introspection and it is time to execute the 2008 plans. When I get back to my pool, gym, indoor trainer and regular running and cycling routes in NJ next week, I am now focused. This time in Tucson training and being 'inside my head' has worked to get the momentum going high. Try some introspection this time of year. It's pretty cool. Train alone, to regroup, clarify and reconnect with where you currently are and with what you want to do in 2008.
So, now for me, I know I'm ready. My strategy for the 2008 triathlon racing season is solidly set. I can now think of other things, hang-out and relax. Hey, as I ran today, I noticed some very sweet looking golf courses. Tucson is also one of the prime golf destinations in the US. Perhaps I will hire a golf pro to clean up that rusty technique that my father taught me as a little girl??? Ha! Golf?! I have no patience for refining my golf swing...heck, my swimming technique is a lesson in practicing patience in itself, and that's another story!
Hmmm…knowing my level of patience, when considering to take up golf again, my Father would say, "Cherri, stick to triathlon…" Have fun ramping up for 2008! Check in with me at cherri@peaktrainingsystems.com and on www.coachtroy.com. See you out there!
