Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Timing Is Everything

I read too much.

I read too much about running, about heart rates, about nutrition, about biking, swimming, triathlons. Who said "ignorance is bliss?" So right.

Cuz combine all my reading with my natural tendency to worry and you end up with a person who Must At All Times Follow the Plan.

If I have a Plan, I'm A-OK. And luckily, for the incredibly low price of $75, the D.C. New Triathlete Program provides a day-by-day plan of exactly what I should be doing and when, from March through July. The Plan includes one day off per week. You can mix the days around to suit your life, but you should get the six days in.

So, there's a lot of people in the NTP who apparently have never even looked at the Plan. Which amazes and astounds me. How do they function?

So this week, the Plan said bike Monday. Check. Swim Tuesday (2000 yards!). Check. Run one hour Wednesday. Check. Thursday off. Friday bike. Saturday run. Sunday bike.

But...sometimes the Plan contradicts itself. Like this Saturday is the first group brick (bike-run). Which means if I bike Friday, I bike again on Saturday. And that's two bikes in a row, which I am certain breaks some Rule that I've read about somewhere.

And this bothered me so much that I had to actually write and ask someone about it.

Am I mental?

Sigh.

God forbid I ride that bike two days in a row.

The life of an middle-aged-single-mother aspiring triathlete is filled with such dilemmas.

I just thought I'd share that.

21 comments:

Laurie said...

Can I just say that I heart your neuroses? You may not but I do.

Old School Runner said...

Plans are good. I think they are a motivating force. They make us feel accountable.

Phil said...

$75!

LBTEPA said...

I think that Rule you read about somewhere is you can't RUN 2 days in a row or your legs will fall off or something. I think cycling is ok.
People without a Plan freak me out! They are Wrong and we are Right, so there :)

Danielle in Iowa in Ireland said...

I have a plan but I don't follow it. I don't know what that means for which category I fall in under LBTEPAs standards :-)

Laura said...

Rules are silly. So are plans. I say you're fine :)

Jade Lady said...

Agree - who bikes two days in a row (except DC Rainmaker who seems to bike in his sleep).

Good luck on the plan - I'm usually good for about 2 wks on a plan, and then I prefer to get creative, just to be a rebel.

21stCenturyMom said...

I rode my bike yesterday - and today - and I ran 15 minutes today. And you know what? I feel awesome! So go ahead and break that plan and have a fine time doing it.

Deene said...

come on, be a rebel and stick it to the plan!

Rainmaker said...

Did I hear my name in the comments?

I only bike two days in a row when I'm biking to 'loosen up' my legs (like minutes after following a long run). But I also bike two days in a row whenever the plan says I should. ;) Which...isn't very often (except #1).

That said - here's the thing I realized last year - don't fret the plan. In the grand scheme of things, one day has no material impact on the entire training plan. However - added up together, they do. By 'pushing' yourself you're effectively generating strain/load, which (if rested properely) will in turn build strength. Or something like that.

Anonymous said...

My thoughts on plans...I read this on the message board outside a church..."If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

peter said...

Plan? What plan? Don't you make it up as you go? You know, sorta like W and his war.

ItchyBits said...

You like structure...nothing wrong with that. I bike 3-4 days in a row most weeks because life gets in the way and I have to get it in when I can. I do believe there is a 48 hour rule after a hard effort -- if you are in to doing things proper.

ItchyBits said...

I should say....48 hours after a hard effort -- if you want to be optimal for your next.

Susan said...

*smile*

David said...

Worry wart.

Just do what the Plan says. If you die from it we'll all come to the wake and speak of how ludicrous the Plan must have been.

Or take up bell-ringing or something.

Jon Wolfsthal said...

Jean:

wow, nice blog and lots of comments. No one visits mine (sob).

I love my plan. I read it, rely on it and it never lies to me. It is always there for me. When I don't know what do to, I follow the plan. I made the leap of faith and when it says bike two days straight, I pump up the tires.

So no worries about loving your plan. That is why it is there.

ShirleyPerly said...

I really should follow a plan. Had no idea I shouldn't bike two days in a row. But I rarely do two hard bike workouts in a row, same as running.

Vickie said...

Its better to have a plan you can skip a workout or two than to skip workouts because you don't have a plan.

Neese said...

oh Jeanne lol I heart you... I really do, and I'm so about the plan too, and yeah that might be a bit much to write to someone about it, but hey that's you and that's OK!

Rich said...

You read about heart rates? Are you sandbagging me? What's LHR indeed!