New Year, New Spirit

Perhaps it's a Rosh Hashanah gift.  It's the only logical explanation for me not having any workouts today. Not that I'm complaining.  Last week I had 17.5 hours scheduled and logged roughly 16 total.  This week, including the upcoming Nautica Malibu Triathlon, I've got 11.5 hours scheduled.  Big difference.  A welcome one too, considering Coach Gerardo told me the other day that next week's training was going to be "a rough one."

I'm actually looking forward to the challenging week ahead, though I'm thoroughly enjoying this week's race taper -- the last real one before my Ironman cooldown in early-mid November.  During this rest period, I've noticed that I'm sleeping many more hours than usual.  Typically, I'm sleeping between 7-8 hours a night.  Twice this week though, I've logged 10 hours sleep.  And I even managed a nap this afternoon following synagogue and before the traditional family dinner.

Is this a sign of over-training, fatigue or just capitalizing on a great opportunity to catch up on rest? I'm honestly not sure, but am confident it will benefit my race time this Saturday.

Tomorrow, the only workout planned is a 30-minute easy run with four, 60-second pick-ups at race pace.  Steph said she'd come with me if her back is feeling up to the challenge.  Then, it's packet pick up in the early evening, more rest, and blast-off Saturday morning.  My reward for a hard fought race?  That'll be 75 miles on the bike Sunday. Not sure who's coming with me yet as most of my Fortius teammates are racing somewhere else.

One final note.  As I sat in services today, one of the many things that crossed my mind was that I really needed a joyous event like the Jewish New Year to pick up my training spirits. In case you haven't sensed it, I think I'm a little burnt out lately.  The constant training routine has been getting to me, almost numbing me to the joy of the sport.  The six-days-a-week slog fest of training and racing has felt almost as much like a second job as the adventurous hobby that triathlon should be. So, with a religious event that symbolizes renewal and celebration as my catalyst, I'm jolting myself out of this recent lethargy and recalling how lucky I am to be able to pursue this sport and the goal of an Ironman with such flexibility and support.

It's a new year, symbolized by the sounding of the ram's horn shofar.  With that blast, comes a re-energized spirit.  A promise within myself to try and do better. To be better.  Not just better, but to be my best.  Towards others and within myself.

We're in the final stages of Ironman preparation.  Now is the time to dig deep, remind myself that past results don't indicate future success, and that there's still much more adventure to be had.

The best is yet to come.

71 days and counting.