A Time of Transition
For the first time, I'm putting running aside. Well, not really ASIDE as in AWAY, but aside as in dethroning it as the only real sport for me. Running is moving down to a new spot as the third most important discipline in a new-found triumvirate of athletic endeavors, at least for a few months.
It's very hard for us, as runners, to cope with reduced mileage and running time, no matter the situation. Whether it be an injury, an unfavorable life event, or just a need to rest, reduced mileage is associated with reduced fitness and that alone can be a major blow to one's athletic ego. Even when the choice to reduce mileage is associated with exploring new athletic pursuits, runners often find themselves still attempting to keep up the running miles in addition to the increased time spent learning and practicing those new disciplines. I have been battling with this conundrum for the past few weeks as I attempt to construct my first triathlon training program. I have vacillated between refusing to allow the base mileage to slip while simply adding swim time and cycling to my regime and accepting the reduced mileage by replacing at least one to two weekly runs with swimming or cycling. When it comes down to it, the addition of the two disciplines is doable while maintaining my current weekly mileage. However, the bigger issue that I had to embrace was whether or not that would set a good precedence for my future triathlon aspirations. Right now, I'm training for a sprint, but one day I aspire to do a 70.3. Keeping those running miles when I start to train for that will be impossible, so why is hanging on to them now, when they are not useful for my bigger goal, so important to me? Welcome to the nonsensical mind of a life-long runner.
After going back and forth, I've finally decided to give up at least two of my weekly runs, replacing them on both days with swimming and cycling. The fact that I have a long way to go in order to improve my swimming skills enough to feel confident on race day had a lot to do with that. If I don't put the time in on the swim, I'm going to fail (which in swimming terms means drowning, so that is a major motivation to put in the time). Fear of failure (and death!) is a huger motivator.
Change is never easy, and I hope that as the next few months progress I am able to see my improvement as both a swimmer and cyclist and use that to replace the sense of accomplishment I get from completing those higher mileage weeks of running. I'm banking on it. It's a lifestyle commitment, not simply a number in the running log, and I'm going have to remember that. Remind me, will ya?
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