Counting Z's

There is no warning really. I woke up with big plans for the events of the day. I am still snuggled up under the blankets, dogs miscellaneously sprawled out on the covers and after the alarm has screamed that it is time to get up. I have visions of my training plan for the day and for the week. It honestly doesn't occur to me that these plans might not happen until my feet hit the floor and my routine of the morning begins. Then, I began to fear the worst.

Moments into my daily morning routine, my body feels weighed down, my legs are weak, head is pounding and my arms are hanging loosely at my sides. My mind, however, is still spinning; thinking of the 4,000 yard swim and how fantastic the hour run is going to be today (maybe even a run in my Z3 heart zone). But, my body is telling me that it cannot do any of that today. Thus, the battle begins between my mind and my body.

Ironman training (as I have mentioned briefly before) is a head game. Mental preparation is just as crucial (I am quickly learning) as physical preparation. So, what was I supposed to do with this new information my body was sending to my brain? Clearly, it was a mistake. Some information must have gotten crossed and my brain was simply misunderstanding what my body was telling it.

THE CONVERSATION:
The Brain: Today I am going to swim 4,000 yards (we will pick out a practice when we get to the pool, but let's make it a good one, some sprint work and arm work) and then run 1 hour (we will see how the run starts out and figure out the heart rate from there).
The Body: Nope.
The Brain: But you have to. You have to be ready for Ironman. Do you want to fall on your face?
The Body: Nope. Yep. Nope.
The Brain: Well then, let's go. Get off the couch and get your swimming bag ready.
The Body: Nope.

That's it. That's how it happens. That's how it happened to me this week. I was prepped and ready. Let me rephrase, I was prepped and mentally ready, but my body was not as convinced and was yelling at me that I needed a break. I gave up one day to the information my body was sending to my brain. Then I gave up two days and finally three. I am still in awe at how clear my body was making the message to my brain and yet I was still fighting that information.
Since I started riding my bike in June of 2009, nothing of this magnitude (physically) had occurred before. I had never experienced a physical "shut down" of this nature.

Sleep, rest of things, O pleasing Deity,
Peace of the soul, which cares dost crucify,
Weary bodies refresh and mollify.
-Ovid, attributed

February 22 - February 28

• February 22 - Swim 3,000 yards
• February 23 - OFF - "so sleepy"
• February 24 - OFF - "nap training"
• February 25 - OFF - "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
• February 23 - 25 [Journal Entry] - It's official. I now understand how combining the social life + work + training + life + school + winter can lasso your body and take to the ground without warning. WOW - exhausted isn't even the word. Three days off and I'm starting to feel a bit better. I truly feel the winter weather combined with training in the "elements" adds that extra stress to your body and wipes you out. So, flat on my face I did fall, only to head out later and run in this "snowy, blowing chaos" that I am witness to through my windows. Enough of winter! Enough of snow already! I am ready to head out and feel the warm sun on my face during a long ride through the Ohio countryside.
• February 26 - Run :45 in a "snowphoon" - The snow this month is insane, so going running in it is pretty much the only option. It is certainly rough going, but come August I am sure I will be glad that I pushed through.
• February 27 - H.O.P. Trainer Ride 2 hours -Wow! My legs feel almost "silly". This was my first official trainer day with a computer so it was nice to see my cadence. It was a struggle keeping my cadence past 112 (Big on front - 23 on back).Perhaps that will get easier the stronger my legs get. Perhaps a new seat will help and experience will help (and all will come packaged neatly with a big beautiful bow - ha!). All I can do right now is keep plugging along, watch in anticipation the progress I am making, monitor how much sleep I get and eat "well".
• February 28 - Swim 4,000 yards - My swim workout today was AWESOME! I clocked :44 minutes for a 3,000 yard swim which was putting me on my pace to finally do a 4,000 in under 1:00:00! I am looking forward to clocking my yardage in a month or so in anticipation of more progress being made.

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book"

- Irish Proverb