quick and dirty - a demoralization post before work

I've been re-reading my Triathlete's Training Bible and preparing for my second season of triathlon. I've been super-stoked to be honest. Slowly I have been coming around to the idea of transitioning toward using HR zones for training. I have always avoided this because I seem to have an abnormally high resting HR and an insanely high HR during exercise (even when my PRE is in a low or middle range). Tuesday I finally strapped up on a trainer ride and it wasn't as bad as I thought. Clearly much easier than my usual efforts to stay in a steady low zone 2, but good also to know what that should feel like.

Today was the day I was going to risk it on a run. The run is the problem. I knew it would be the problem. When I run my HR goes to 170-180 really easily and will stay there for a long time (an entire run)? People are telling me I need to run and walk until I can keep it sub 140. I don't even think I can stroll casually with my HR below 140. This puts me in a bind. But I 'm a scientist so I tested it out. Lo and behold, I can't even shuffle with my heartrate below 148 and at an 11:34 overall pace for a run/walk in which I hardly broke a sweat my average HR was 159. I am hydrated. I have no caffeine in my system. THIS SUCKS. I get into this mind game like "how is this possible? i can run an hour at an 8:15 pace (today, if I wanted to). I've run 2 HMs at an 8:35 pace and my half marathon off the bike at FirmMan in under 2:00. Why can't I even shuffle with a normal heart rate?" It makes me kind of panicky about my heart. It makes me question my abilities and my potential as an athlete. It makes me feel abandoned and screwed over by my body. And I don't know how to fix it.

November - By the Numbers

Swim: 10,900 yards
Bike:  322 miles with 5 2+hr trainer sessions
Run: 43 miles with no runs over 5.5miles :-(
Other cardio: 7hrs
Weights/kettlebells: 9 sessions
Total training time:  41.1hrs

Two solid weeks at the end of the month with 12 and 14 hours. 3 of 4 swim sessions in a one week period. Feeling really good on the bike. Really slow and crappy on my short pathetic runs. Deconditioned but fresh and with good form on my swims, with Total Immersion drill emphasis. There are certainly some good pieces in here. Getting back up over 40 hours for the month felt very good, think I want to try to stick to 40 hours for December and January. Need to figure out something to get my running back on track. And need to get back to regular swimming 2+ times per week. It has been tricky for me to figure out how to keep both lifting and swimming in my schedule at once, but this is a must for the upcoming year so there's no time like the present.

Am keeping fingers crossed for lots of fun swim, bike, run gear for the holidays!