OK I forced myself to make an entry tonight to beg all of you that at least think you know what is considered good off-season training to PLEASE tell me. I read many articles that say to concentrate on strength and technique and aerobic training. I was at the gym tonight and while I do truly believe that training below my lactic threshold on the dreadmill and bike are probably going to benefit me in the long run, I have to go SO slow in order to do that and naturally I feel like I'm going to be a slug starting next season. I know I sound like a total contradiction but that is what I'm going to do for the next three months but I need you all to tell me it's the right thing to do and there is or is not something more I should be doing. Plus...what happens if I want to do some of the fun 5ks over winter? Am I going to blow my body by trying to all of a sudden fit in a short, faster run after not doing ANY speed work? Ugh......
I've still been swimming 3x a week with Masters and am thoroughly proud of myself for keeping up (for the most part) in Lane 2. It was a long year of work and I do miss my Lane 1 buddies but I'm doing my best to fit in as the new kid in Lane 2 :-P
1 comment:
Kris, you're awesome! What a fun read. It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who has these kinds of thoughts racing through my mind.
I'm not sure there's any one particular answer to the question of what's good off season training. Coach Mike gave me the idea of doing X-country skiing during the winter instead of running which I thought was a brilliant idea. Sure I'll run the occasional 5K (Turkey Day, Reindeer Run, Christmas Day, Valentine's Day) but I'm not going to run them to break any records or see how hard I can push it. I'm going to do them with the focus of having fun with my friends.
One thing about cross training is that it keeps you in shape but a different shape (not square vs round). Don't be discouraged at all if, at the start of the next season, you're not where you were when you left off. I'd actually be more scared if you WERE where you left off. Our bodies are brilliant in that they have memory. Your muscles will remember their strength but it'll take a few weeks for them to get there. And that should be encouraging. A few weeks versus the entire last season to get to where you were is an incredibly encouraging thought.
If you work on building your base this winter by doing the slow workouts, what you're accomplishing is keeping the base but more importantly you're working on strengthening your heart and lungs and pushing that lactic threshold up higher. So, when the next season is coming you're base will be stronger and you'll be able to go harder for longer.
So, cross train. Do rows or cross country ski. Drop me a line if you can think of some other fun winter cross training things to do.
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