Too stimulated? train for ‘no-mind’

So I came across this intersting article… http://irule.co.nz/blogs/?p=398. Basically it is about training your mind to think about nothing while running.

Think it is interesting, just yesterday I was talking to Jen about the last lap of the run for the half, and  how I am not sure if it was my mind that gave up or the body. I have to go with the mind, quite frankly (the body didn’t hurt enough afterwards to have been the body). I have always thought that one of my strengths has been my ability to focus and push harder… but that was for the shorter distance races, for the longer distances maybe I can’t focus as I used to.

So tomorrows run I am going to start practicing ‘no mind’.

That is if my gluts can function properly. Jen gave me a new training program on Monday and took me through it. Its a power work out, and focuses on those glut muscles. Phew… the gluts were sore today, strange really when the rest of the leg muscles aren’t that sore. Its good though, I have overcome the strong thighs trying to do all the work to the gluts finally putting in their share of the work.

To the future… maybe I’ve grown up

Now that the half Ironman is out to the way, I can officially write down what the plans for the future are.

I used to want to do “everything”. There were so many events out their and I just wanted to do it all. I have overcome this feeling lately, I am moving towards doing fewer events better.

Though maybe I haven’t quite overcome this feeling, Nades asked if I wanted to do Captains Cooks landing yesterday. It wasn’t in the ultimate plan (though had been written down in the yearly plan of possibilities), I rather liked the idea of doing a trail run with friends so said hell yes…

The need to go back to multisport

So after supporting the c2c I was yeh, I want to do it again! But really I think that was just a bit of a fake feeling. I got over it quickly, and wonder if I put that feeling on because it was almost expected of me.

I haven’t finished with c2c and the kayak but I need to be in a different life space before tackling the challenge once again. I have contemplated just doing the run in a team, but that is quite frankly stupid expensive, when I’ll just be telling myself I could do the whole thing for the same price… we are in a recession, I need to get value for money 🙂

So that leaves…

Trail running and Ironman. I was thinking this morning on my run, I am better swimmer than kayaker, why not just feel comfortable and go with your strengths… but all that tarmac *shudder*. Thus the need to keep that Off road element into my life, and trail running does this for me.

But lets look at the rest of my life…

There are 2 other elements I have to take into consideration, before making a ultimate decision where to go.

Work

Work to me, has been more about having the money to do what I want in my recreational life. I have never been all that driven to climb the ladder of success. But circumstances change, and a opportunity has shown its self in my job. I get more responsibility, but this obviously means that I might have to work longer/harder effecting my training.

I have thought about this and decided that if I need to take a year out of my training goals to advance my career, than I will. But I have not discovered yet if this will be the case or not.

A new house

We are the worse procrastinators, and in the case of buying a new house, it is probably very good that we didn’t buy one a year ago. But this morning, I bought a paper circled some houses that will go look at tomorrow. Need to go see the bank manager to see how much we can afford, but it will mean that money will need to tightened, not just buying heaps of shoes, because I can etc. And I have to be more judicious about the entry fees etc (but I might be able to get work to sponsor me and cover some of these).

Back to the goals for the year…

Challenge Wanaka

Nope I have never thought about Taupo. If Taupo was the only option, I just don’t think I would even have contemplated the iron distance. Not sure why that is.. but Wanaka appeals to my psyche, it isn’t the easy option (if a Ironman could ever be considered a easy option).

But… I have given myself a escape. I will train over winter, like I am doing the Ironman, but if at the end of winter when the training hours go up but I haven’t the time to commit to it, I’ll change and aim for the Wanaka Half. It will be a hard decision to make, but I will have to be honest with myself about it.

SI Half Ironman

I thought it amusing that after Auckland, people were saying, imagine how well you will go at SI half. Crap I thought… I might die of boredom and unrelenting tarmac. I might complain about those hills in auckland, but man 3 laps of a flat 30K course with a possible hellish Nor’wester. Nope not on the top of things I would love to do. But they are right, imagine how fast I could do the bike, and come off with fresher legs for the run… I’ll should definitely be able to do a sub 6, would be nice to prove that point.

Trails

So I have Routeburn and Abel Tasman entered already, and possibly captains cook. But what about Kepler? Will need to talk to Jo about that one. It would be awesome to go and do it again and get the award for most improved (you know that was why  I was so slow the first time, so I didn’t have work so hard the 2nd time to get that award). But if I am going for the Iron distance this might not be plausible, and maybe should be part of Plan B.

Pulling the shoes back on again.

Not much rest for the mad…

So I took 3 rest day’s after the half (my program said 2, but felt like another). Basically this week I had to fit in a 90min runa and 60min cycle. I did the run on Wednesday, I failed to get up early and knew that after work, I would have been in the can’t be bothered frame of mind, so went out at lunch time.

It was a strange sensation, to be running again after such a short period from a A race, and feel good while running. I got a couple of “Oh no my knee is twinging… that hamstring feeling a bit tight”. I was feeling strong, but didn’t go for the whole 90min.

I had put the cycle off to later in the week, because I had been too lazy to put the bike back together. But Wednesday night I got of my arse and put it all back together, I left the aero bars off, because I don’t think I will need them at the moment.

It felt strange not having the aero bars on the handle bars. I felt slightly uncomfortable on the bike near the end, back was hurting slightly.

But more importantly tommorrow I get to out the trail shoes back on… I don’t think I have had them on since Kepler… ya hoh… of I go….

The only problem is what tommorow’s trail run conists of. Its a 2hr run, with 2 reps of Rapaki! Then finish off along the summit… blimin heck this is supposed to be my “easy” week. You don’t even want to know what next week consists of.

I tell you the program for the half Ironman looked easy compared to the program for the Routeburn. Maybe she was taking it easy  on me for the first few weeks, just to make me feel comfortable.

Big fat blubbery moment

Just seen my phots for Auckland half… They are here if you want to look.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26666039@N03/?saved=1

But be warned, though nobody else will shudder and shake, they all know what I look like…. its just me who has a “skinner” thoughts of herself than is actual.