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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Ho, Ho, Holy Hot batman!

Today was one of the best holy hot training days I have had.  I am not talking medium hot, I am taking sweating before the workout even started.  I tuned my bike in the garage with no AC, by the time I was done I was soaked!  But, that was only the beginning of enjoying the heat.
I am adjusting my training this week as I have a crazy weekend that i can only get one workout in.  Over the course of this week it is my intention to get the other workout done and them some!  As I get into the heavy build time, the extra training won't hurt me a bit. I am meant to be building so I will likely end up with a few extra miles along the way.  As long as I use my recovery days wisely I can only think that it will help.
Today I went out for a long'ish ride in the heat.  I spent a little over 3 hours on the bike with a target of staying in ZOne 1-2 even thought the heat was trying to ramp that up all along.  The heat did slow me down a bit, however speed was not the strategy of this one.  I did just over 90k including a couple of monster hills for fun.  The hills were the only time that I got out of my zone, but I did not feel bad as I was able to kick the hills in the butt.  The same hills last year, I was taking a break half way up so that I would not bust a lung.
I followed the ride with a 25 minute run, once again focusing on keeping my HR in ZOne 1-2.  That was a little more difficult.  I did slow my pace to make sure that I managed to stay in the zone.  It was a tough run as I my nutrition was off and I started to cramp a bit towards the end.  However, a great lesson learned.
As the training get longer, the nutrition plan that I have started is truly going to be tested.  When I have a 'bad' session, I treat it as a lesson rather than a negative.  It is my own fault that I did not take on enough electrolytes on my ride.  Kinda stupid seeing as I had it with me and that I was sweating like a mad man most of the ride.  I now know a little more than I did yesterday and had an overall great workout to lead me to it.
That was not the end of workouts though.  Tonight is a LULULEMON run club event, so after some water some food and a brief rest, I put my shoes back on and hit the road.  With the crazy heat I did shorten the run tonight.  The purpose is to promote and build a run community, not to scare off the people who come out by trying to race them in the heat.  The group were troupers, they ran at a great pace and managed a strong negative split although it was so hot.  Although short another great training session.
As the heat is here I am making the best of it.  Why not take advantage of it?  Race day will be what race day is.  I can control when I get there and what training i have done.  I can not control what the weather will be.  Wisconsin 3-4 years ago was one of the highest drop out IM rates because of the heat, ideally this can only help me avoid that eventuality should it be a hot day!  And, if it isn't, this is only going to make me smarter about my nutrition and stronger with tough training days~!
Hope you are managing to stay cool and enjoying the summer!

4 comments:

  1. I think that training in the heat will make you a better triathlete come race day. It doesn't matter if the race is hot or cold.

    Yes long bikes on hot days and scalding tarmac are a challenge, I'm doing mine as early as possible and still catching 30C at the end.

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  2. Wow, great workouts! It's great that you're mixing up the solo and group, hard training and social.

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  3. Definite connect in Madison post event - Adult Bev for you...H2O for me! haha - keep it up
    -D

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  4. I hate the heat. Low 30s for me is fine, but this humidex in the 40s is too much. Maybe if I were a stronger runner I wouldn't mind as much. :)

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