Pragmatism

Since getting back into decent shape is proving to be a struggle, I need to be pragmatic about the early season goals I set out for myself. While doing well at the Trisports.com Desert Classic Duathlon would be great, and racing at the front of my age group and the amateurs in Oceanside was a goal, given that I’m in piss poor shape right now, maybe a reset is in order.
It’s one thing to be optimistic, it’s another thing to be unrealistic. Realistically, I don’t have the time to get into the shape I need to be to meet my original goals. This is the worst shape I’ve been in in the last 6 years or so. Since October, the pool has seen me once for 800 yards and I’ve yet to make an appearance this year. After crashing my bike, I didn’t run for 24 days. Over the last two weeks I’ve managed almost 37 miles of running. That is not going to help me get to the finish line in a speedy manner. Neither is running at the speed I’m currently plodding along at. My cycling has been almost none existent as well, maybe 150 miles since the crash. At least that seems to bounce back fairly quickly if past history is any indication.
What needs to be done? As I’d tell any of the athletes I coach who are making a comeback from injury or illness, consistency is the key. No days without working out. A workout or two or three a day keeps the rest of the competition at bay. Or at least gets them closer then they would have been. So that’s the plan. Workout and workout often.

On a side note, congrats to Erin, 3rd place at the U of A crit in her category!