I realized the other day that I do just about the exact same route whether running or biking day in, day out. I never seem to tire of it or get bored. The scenery is beautiful and passing the gorgeous estates along Ponte Vedra Boulevard always gives me plenty to look at. But this morning I decided to take my training elsewhere…
after my pre-race meal of my homemade raw energy bar and frozen banana with raw almond butter and making my coffee, I hopped in my already packed car and journeyed to Amelia Island to visit the race course. I sipped my coffee (something i don’t normally do before a workout, but likely will before the race, so wanted to make sure it didn’t affect me) along my hour-long drive and tried to concentrate on my my race from last year. I tried to gather all my memories and think about the highs and lows I experienced. basically, i never wrote a race report on this race last year b/c i didn’t wanna relive the bad moments. i had a good swim, a great bike, but bombed the run. i was so incredibly trained, fit and prepared but b/c i got sick the night before (we’re talking up ALL night sick), i wasn’t able to give my best. it was incredibly disappointing for me and it took me some time to be ok with it. while my physical strength and endurance is no where near where it was last year (after taking 8 weeks off for an injury), i feel so much stronger mentally this year. one thing i’ve definitely learned along my journey as an (tri)athlete is the importance of mental strength.
when i thought about the run course, all i pictured were the spots where i thought i was going to to get sick, the spots where i had to walk, the spots where i wanted to curl up in the fetal position and wait for someone to find me. I needed to erase these images and replace them with new ones. Today was not only about reminding myself of the course, but to battle the demons from last year.
not only did i fight them, but i won.
I pulled into the parking lot, prepped my bike and got my gear on. I ate half an espresso Hammer Gel (what can i say, i like coffee… and the caffeine helps, too)– not because i needed the calories/energy, but b/c i planned to do that on race morning and wanted to practice it. like they say, “nothing new on raceday”. I pulled on my armwarmers and hopped on the bike. the weather was amazing, a bit chilly even!. my training plan just called for an hour EZ ride, so i tried to focus on not pushing hard and staying at an easy effort the whole way. i stayed in the small chain for the whole thing and i felt good. i tried to take in all the sights to help in visualizations later. once i turned around the wind was pretty brutal. i’m crossing my fingers it wont be like that on raceday, but you never know and at least now i can be prepared for that shift. i feel like i’m not as strong on the bike as i was this time last year, so i’m hoping i can get all the weather conditions on my side :)
i pulled back in to the parking lot, broke down my bike, switched out my shoes, grabbed my fuelbelt, visor, and gel and started on my run. The first 4 or so miles are an out-n-back wandering by some beachfront houses and it’s completely shade-less, but i was prepared; I remembered this from last year. Before the race i was told the run was “all shaded”… which, is true…. but not until you reach the park, so you’ve got 4 miles in the bright sun with no escape. this is why it’s important to know your course.
i hit this section and i enjoyed the scenery, i read all the street signs, i marveled at the houses, i smelled the sea grass, i took visual snap shots. i wasn’t thinking about GI issues, or fatigue, or pain, b/c i didn’t have any of these. i felt good.
i felt good, enjoyed myself and i almost didn’t want to stop. it was incredibly refreshing. i felt fast, too, during my 4 mile main set. i finished the workout by running through where the finishing chute would be and imagining myself running under the clock with a smile on my face. it felt good. i pictured a 5:15 on the clock, though, i know that might be ambitious for where i am right now. i want it, i’m gonna work for it, but i won’t be devastated if i don’t get it. above all else, i want to enjoy the race and feel proud of myself and feel strong.
it was JUST what i needed. a great training weekend. seriously. it wasn’t that it was a FAST weekend, but i felt good and i felt strong and i felt recovered. if i could feel the way i did on saturday OR sunday on raceday, i’ll be just fine. seriously, i wish i could pinpoint exactly what i did this week, but my legs felt fresh and ready to go.
When all was said and done and i was back at my car i slipped my ice packs into my calf sleeves, and filled my shaker cup with ice cold water to mix my recovery drink (1 scoop recoverite + 1 tsp MSM). i drank that while driving to the nearby starbucks where i could get a hot coffee and prepare my much anticipated breakfast. i sat in the car, chopped my fruit (banana + peach) and added it to my tupperware with my raw granola and poured my almond milk over top. mmm. i finished it off with half of a raw carrot muffin. i enjoyed every bite and every sip on my drive home and i think i had a smile on my face most of the way. what a great day!
last weekend build complete.
