The above title doesn't have anything to do with the post, it is just a reflection of my love of Monty Python TV skits, in this case "Exploding Penguin on the Telly". Youtube it.
But, in any case, after a rest week, we launch into training, in a big way. 5 hours yesterday, 2 this morning and I think I might through in a couple more this afternoon, just to make things interesting. But yesterday was, as far as I remember, my single biggest day of continuous, organised training. This 5 hour day, more then any other workout I've ever done, really showed me the benefits of training with someone, in this case Pat Monette. When you need to go easy, you feel a lot more comfortable at a very low pace when you're training with someone, as, for whatever reason, it looks like this is part of some crazy high tech training system, and that your low speed is important. When it comes time to go hard, you go just that much harder. No matter how fast you can run on your own, you can run faster when there is someone chasing you. And if you're lifting weights alone, you'd never put on the extra 10 pounds for the last set, but when there is someone watching, you find you can suddenly do it.
And since we have hot and humid weather moving in after a mostly cooler and wet summer, hydration suddenly becomes an issue. In the heat it becomes vital to drink lots before going out, drink as much as you can during the workout, and drink lots later. If you lose any significant amount of weight due to sweat loss, you're in a lot of trouble. You can't focus, which not only decreases the quality of the workout, can be downright dangerous. Dehydration can cause your senses to deaden, so that car coming up from behind is awfully silent. But the trouble becomes carrying water on a long workout. Hydration systems in a backpack hold a fair amount of water, but they tend to get very hot and uncomfortable, and could also affect your ability to move your arms. I can carry up to about 2.5L of fluid with me when I ski, using a bike jersey to hold 3 bottles, plus a drink belt, but that is also uncomfortable, the bottles often fall out, and to top it all off, you look even more crazy then usual when rollerskiing. So I don't really have a solution, besides being smart about it. If worse comes to worse, just swing by someones house and ask for them to fill up your bottle for you. Just don't go inside, or their front hall will stink for weeks, and always show kindness to strangers.
I also had my first really hard workout in months this morning. I haven't had my heartrate over 185 really at all this year, but then all of a sudden I get it up to 196! Gotta love short, hard workouts.
I also feel really fit and motivated for this season. I'm getting better at sprinting, I'm so much stronger then I was last year, and just broke through that magical 60 limit on box jumps. But above all, I'm climbing so quickly. Every workout I do, regardless of how hard it is, I can just fly up the hills. It's always been my strength, but this year, I think that everything else is going to be a strength too. This year, I'll be able to keep up on the double pole sections, stay calm on the flats, and then fly up the hills. I'm so motivated. I'm also really looking forward to school, not only because I'll be living away from home and going to school and all that, but because I'll be able to ski every day. No more running through the neighborhood back in Mississauga when almost everyone else can ski. I can ski too. Snow comes in about 3 months. Can't wait.
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