Thought this would be a good way to get the "Motivate Me" going!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
the difficulties of updating a blog and my training plans moving forward
When I started this blog, I was updating it after every race or good training session, expressing my feelings of how it went, how my training was proceeding, and how my first race season went. As I got more involved in triathlons and training and such, one would think that I would be blogging more often? But alas no, it is so hard to think of what to write when there isn't much new to write. "woke up, swam/biked/ran (pick 1 or 2 or 3) repeated". But really, the last few years have been pretty big in terms of my athletic development, and my involvement in the sport of triathlon.
My initial goal, as I stated in my first post, and re-posted last June, was to complete an Ironman in 2012. I'm well on my way to doing so. I know my physical disadvantages, and I'm working on improving them/making them strengths. The swim, I'm basically just going to survive. It's all I can do. All the time, energy, effort I've put into fixing my form and getting faster times hasn't paid off at all. I've tried different strategies, improved/modified my form, FELT like I'm faster, but the times ended up being the same this past year as they have been the two seasons prior. So basically, I'm just going to work on form and volume, get my endurance so that I can comfortably do the 3.8km swim and crack the bike/run.
This past year, I didn't work on my bike AT ALL. That being said, I was still a pretty darn strong cyclist. This winter I'm going to be spending hours on the bike. Not necessarily pounding out the Watts, but essentially working on comfortability and heart rate training for long periods in the saddle. Does that mean I plan on being slow? HELL NO! If you thought I was good before...look out. My bike is not my swim. The time and effort I put into it WILL pay off, and my fellow competitors better have toothpicks in their bento boxes so they can pick the asphalt out of their teeth when I go roaring past them after I "give" them their headstart in the water!
The reason I didn't bike so much is because a) it bored the hell out of me, and b) I was working on my swimming and running. I found out that I am a fast runner, and I plan on getting even faster. By the end of 2011, I was able to run under 4:00 for quality intervals at KevOs speed sessions. Next year, my goal is to continue that, and try to get my race pace intervals under 4:. I feel that I have it in me to break 20:00 for 5KM, and I plan on doing it! Will I do that in Tremblant? Hell no, that marathon will just be survival! But I do plan on putting the foundation on my 2017 goal: qualify for Boston! (hopefully I achieve this before 2017, but my goal is to make it to Boston by the time I turn 40!)
So some big things coming up! I plan on modifying how I post on this blog, so that it's not one long dialogue of my training/racing. I listen to a marathon podcast that has some fun little sections that I plan on "borrowing" for this blog, so make sure you bookmark it and keep coming back for my training Rant/Rave, Motivation Station, and I'll also be posting some specific workouts that I found effective, as well as some of my favorite recipes!
Cheers!
My initial goal, as I stated in my first post, and re-posted last June, was to complete an Ironman in 2012. I'm well on my way to doing so. I know my physical disadvantages, and I'm working on improving them/making them strengths. The swim, I'm basically just going to survive. It's all I can do. All the time, energy, effort I've put into fixing my form and getting faster times hasn't paid off at all. I've tried different strategies, improved/modified my form, FELT like I'm faster, but the times ended up being the same this past year as they have been the two seasons prior. So basically, I'm just going to work on form and volume, get my endurance so that I can comfortably do the 3.8km swim and crack the bike/run.
This past year, I didn't work on my bike AT ALL. That being said, I was still a pretty darn strong cyclist. This winter I'm going to be spending hours on the bike. Not necessarily pounding out the Watts, but essentially working on comfortability and heart rate training for long periods in the saddle. Does that mean I plan on being slow? HELL NO! If you thought I was good before...look out. My bike is not my swim. The time and effort I put into it WILL pay off, and my fellow competitors better have toothpicks in their bento boxes so they can pick the asphalt out of their teeth when I go roaring past them after I "give" them their headstart in the water!
The reason I didn't bike so much is because a) it bored the hell out of me, and b) I was working on my swimming and running. I found out that I am a fast runner, and I plan on getting even faster. By the end of 2011, I was able to run under 4:00 for quality intervals at KevOs speed sessions. Next year, my goal is to continue that, and try to get my race pace intervals under 4:. I feel that I have it in me to break 20:00 for 5KM, and I plan on doing it! Will I do that in Tremblant? Hell no, that marathon will just be survival! But I do plan on putting the foundation on my 2017 goal: qualify for Boston! (hopefully I achieve this before 2017, but my goal is to make it to Boston by the time I turn 40!)
So some big things coming up! I plan on modifying how I post on this blog, so that it's not one long dialogue of my training/racing. I listen to a marathon podcast that has some fun little sections that I plan on "borrowing" for this blog, so make sure you bookmark it and keep coming back for my training Rant/Rave, Motivation Station, and I'll also be posting some specific workouts that I found effective, as well as some of my favorite recipes!
Cheers!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
interesting running video
my chiropractor shared this with me. I found it interesting, but information overload for me. It's definitely made me analyze my running while I'm running though
http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238775-Somax-Stride-Analysis/video/490947-Chris-Solinsky-Stride-Analysis
http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238775-Somax-Stride-Analysis/video/490947-Chris-Solinsky-Stride-Analysis
end of 2011
Well, the season ended a lot more challenging than it began...surprisingly because at the start I was coming off my Achilles Tendonitis. I start to feel the symptoms of burning out in August, and had some pain in my achilles reappear due to overuse, so I had to take a bunch of time off in late August and early September.
My goal of winning/podiuming in Wasaga wasn't achieved, but like I said in my goal setting entry, it was dependant on the participants, not the effort. I put in an effort that would have got me 1st in my AG the last 2 years, but I ended up 6th...just goes to show that all the other fast people in my AG looked at past Wasaga times and decided to show up!
Some other great non-triathlon news...I got engaged! Tanya didn't think it was going to happen because I'll be training for IM Tremblant all next year, and since I don't do well with stress, she didn't think that I'd be able to manage the stress of training, stress of teaching, and the stress of planning a wedding....but I'll show her! Actually, the wedding planning has been going pretty good so far. We have date, venue, caterer/decorator/planner, priest, wedding parties, colours. We just need to finalize the list, settle on the menu, make invitations, and all the other little things that I'm not thinking about, but will cause me frustration because I will think we're done but not totally.
All that's left for the season is the Base Borden 13.1. I was supposed to do the Hamilton 26.2, but my oldest/dearest friend Michelle is getting married the day before and I don't want to have to worry about running my first marathon when I should be celebrating Michelle's wedding!
The season has been a successful one. I pushed myself beyond boundaries I ever thought imaginable. I'm currently planning my 'off-season' but it seems that all the ideas I put into my head have me working pretty hard, so I'll have to make sure that I clearly cut down any and all intensity so that in January I can begin the climb to becoming an Ironman!
My goal of winning/podiuming in Wasaga wasn't achieved, but like I said in my goal setting entry, it was dependant on the participants, not the effort. I put in an effort that would have got me 1st in my AG the last 2 years, but I ended up 6th...just goes to show that all the other fast people in my AG looked at past Wasaga times and decided to show up!
Some other great non-triathlon news...I got engaged! Tanya didn't think it was going to happen because I'll be training for IM Tremblant all next year, and since I don't do well with stress, she didn't think that I'd be able to manage the stress of training, stress of teaching, and the stress of planning a wedding....but I'll show her! Actually, the wedding planning has been going pretty good so far. We have date, venue, caterer/decorator/planner, priest, wedding parties, colours. We just need to finalize the list, settle on the menu, make invitations, and all the other little things that I'm not thinking about, but will cause me frustration because I will think we're done but not totally.
All that's left for the season is the Base Borden 13.1. I was supposed to do the Hamilton 26.2, but my oldest/dearest friend Michelle is getting married the day before and I don't want to have to worry about running my first marathon when I should be celebrating Michelle's wedding!
The season has been a successful one. I pushed myself beyond boundaries I ever thought imaginable. I'm currently planning my 'off-season' but it seems that all the ideas I put into my head have me working pretty hard, so I'll have to make sure that I clearly cut down any and all intensity so that in January I can begin the climb to becoming an Ironman!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Summer Summary
This summer has being going great, and I hope to write a more comprehensive overview of all that I've done/accomplished this year, but here's a little snapshot:
2nd Place AG/5th Overall at Midland Sprint
4th Place AG at Bala Sprint
first sub 4:00 KM (I know it's no 4:00 mile, but it's a big deal for me!)
set a new 1/2 marathon PB by 7:00 @ 1:38, and still feel like I could go faster
broke 32:00 on the line 1 TT course (if it were a wind-less night, I could probably break 31:00 on Golf Course Rd right now)
My recovery from my injury has gone really well, although I do have a lot of pain from time to time, especially the day after a race or long run. I just make sure I ice it and listen to my body. One of the best quotes I've heard states: "Bravery is not the man that trains through pain, bravery is the man that knows when not to train". I'm still stubborn from time to time, but I know the difference between an ache and a pain. When my achilles starts feeling the way it did last February, I shut it down for a few days then slowly rebuild, and that's made all the difference. I used to always run fast and try to hold it, inevitably burning out and slowing down. Now I start fast, but not full out, and I always finish way faster than my opening pace. It's how I've been able to put down the fastest times of my life.
I've also gotten a lot smarter about my nutrition and eating habits. Before I trained to lose weight, but this summer I've been training to build strength and I think that's been the big difference. I feel I'm at the perfect weight for my size and the muscle I have/want to build. I currently bounce from 151 - 156 depending on the day/how much beer I drank the day before (lol). Summer 2009 I trained to drop weight from low 170s to low 160s, and 2010 I trained to drop weight from low 160s to low 150s. I don't really gain winter weight as I'm a pretty good cook, and I make sure that everything that I cook is fresh and homemade (rarely do I order out/go through drive thrus). When I found my weight dipping into the high 140s in late May/early June, I decided to make sure that I eat a full and healthy diet. Knowing my dietary restrictions has helped too. I'm pretty much gluten free now (not because it's the "in" thing to do, but because I can't eat regular bread/pasta without severe stomach pains) which has allowed me to eat before training/races, and I have properly fueled post-workout with a protein shake and berries with vanilla soy.
I've been working on my Ironman build, swimming a lot of long distances slowly to get a feel for spending that much time swimming. Last week I swam a total of 6KM (2700m and 3300m) and felt fine. My running has been coming along as well. My long run next will be 28km, and then after that I'll break 30km which will be the longest I've ever ran. I've been slowly building my marathon to run the Hamilton Marathon as my first 26.2. This slow progress has helped me stay healthy and recover quickly so that I can continue training for my Sprints.
My racing this season has been above and beyond what I expected. I thought I would still be a M.O.P. racer, but the times/speeds/results I've been pulling off has me believing that on any given Sunday, I can put myself on the podium, which I have 2 of the last 5 races, narrowly missing a 3rd place in Bala by seconds. My goal was to AG podium in Wasaga, but I'm gunning for the win now. I know it depends on who registers, but I have the confidence in myself that regardless of who is there, that if I can see them on either the bike or the run, I will catch them. I'm biking faster than I ever have before believing that if the elevation is flat, I expect to be 40km/h, and I know what it feels like to run a 3:54 pace over 2KM. Now if only I could swim faster!! That's actually improving, and it's more mental than anything else. My technique is okay, but I don't push myself in the water like I do on the bike and am learning to do on the run. I tend to save too much energy in the swim when I should be pulling as hard as I can with my arms. I get lazy and that's when I lose the front of the pack. But it'll come, I feel it. One of these races it'll just click and I'll be exiting with the leaders.
2nd Place AG/5th Overall at Midland Sprint
4th Place AG at Bala Sprint
first sub 4:00 KM (I know it's no 4:00 mile, but it's a big deal for me!)
set a new 1/2 marathon PB by 7:00 @ 1:38, and still feel like I could go faster
broke 32:00 on the line 1 TT course (if it were a wind-less night, I could probably break 31:00 on Golf Course Rd right now)
My recovery from my injury has gone really well, although I do have a lot of pain from time to time, especially the day after a race or long run. I just make sure I ice it and listen to my body. One of the best quotes I've heard states: "Bravery is not the man that trains through pain, bravery is the man that knows when not to train". I'm still stubborn from time to time, but I know the difference between an ache and a pain. When my achilles starts feeling the way it did last February, I shut it down for a few days then slowly rebuild, and that's made all the difference. I used to always run fast and try to hold it, inevitably burning out and slowing down. Now I start fast, but not full out, and I always finish way faster than my opening pace. It's how I've been able to put down the fastest times of my life.
I've also gotten a lot smarter about my nutrition and eating habits. Before I trained to lose weight, but this summer I've been training to build strength and I think that's been the big difference. I feel I'm at the perfect weight for my size and the muscle I have/want to build. I currently bounce from 151 - 156 depending on the day/how much beer I drank the day before (lol). Summer 2009 I trained to drop weight from low 170s to low 160s, and 2010 I trained to drop weight from low 160s to low 150s. I don't really gain winter weight as I'm a pretty good cook, and I make sure that everything that I cook is fresh and homemade (rarely do I order out/go through drive thrus). When I found my weight dipping into the high 140s in late May/early June, I decided to make sure that I eat a full and healthy diet. Knowing my dietary restrictions has helped too. I'm pretty much gluten free now (not because it's the "in" thing to do, but because I can't eat regular bread/pasta without severe stomach pains) which has allowed me to eat before training/races, and I have properly fueled post-workout with a protein shake and berries with vanilla soy.
I've been working on my Ironman build, swimming a lot of long distances slowly to get a feel for spending that much time swimming. Last week I swam a total of 6KM (2700m and 3300m) and felt fine. My running has been coming along as well. My long run next will be 28km, and then after that I'll break 30km which will be the longest I've ever ran. I've been slowly building my marathon to run the Hamilton Marathon as my first 26.2. This slow progress has helped me stay healthy and recover quickly so that I can continue training for my Sprints.
My racing this season has been above and beyond what I expected. I thought I would still be a M.O.P. racer, but the times/speeds/results I've been pulling off has me believing that on any given Sunday, I can put myself on the podium, which I have 2 of the last 5 races, narrowly missing a 3rd place in Bala by seconds. My goal was to AG podium in Wasaga, but I'm gunning for the win now. I know it depends on who registers, but I have the confidence in myself that regardless of who is there, that if I can see them on either the bike or the run, I will catch them. I'm biking faster than I ever have before believing that if the elevation is flat, I expect to be 40km/h, and I know what it feels like to run a 3:54 pace over 2KM. Now if only I could swim faster!! That's actually improving, and it's more mental than anything else. My technique is okay, but I don't push myself in the water like I do on the bike and am learning to do on the run. I tend to save too much energy in the swim when I should be pulling as hard as I can with my arms. I get lazy and that's when I lose the front of the pack. But it'll come, I feel it. One of these races it'll just click and I'll be exiting with the leaders.
Monday, July 25, 2011
2011 Season Mid Report
I have done 4 races so far, and achieved most of the goals that I have set for myself.
At Muskoka, my goal was to go sup 1:15. I missed the goal by :45, by I'm still happy with the result as it was my fastest ever run, and gave me the confidence to feel like I can be a fast runner.
At Huronia, my goal was to bike sub 34, and run sub 22. Bike sub 34 is impossible at that course, as both of your transition times are included in the bike, and it is a 21.5km bike route with a large hill, some minor inclines, and sketchy road surface. I did, however, ride 38:00+, so I'm happy with that. I came close to running a sub 22:00, running a 22:30, again showing that my speed has improved a lot. It was hot and I didn't pace myself properly. I did, however, finish 2nd in my Age Group and 5th Overall!
At Bala, my goal was to run a sub 35:00. I thought it was only a 7km run (got it confused with Orillia), as it turned out to be a 7.5km run. BUT: I did achieve this goal! I ran 34:43, which is crazy for me! This is a hilly course, and I normally see my pace drop significantly as I run up hills, but I was able to maintain a consistent 4:30ish pace. I finished 4th in my Age Group which bummed me because I missed the podium by :38, but I knew I'd have to go 1:44 for a podium (did 1:45:08) and the guy that passed me with 1km to go runs a sub 3:00 marathon, so I'm not complaining!
Next up I have the Barrie Sprint. I have a lot of trouble getting pumped for this race, but hopefully this year is different. My goals are lofty: sub 30:00 bike (I'd have to average over 40km/h on the bike) and/or a sub 20:00 run (have to average sub 4:00 km pace for the run). I think I can do the sub 20:00 if I really push myself, but the bike will be very difficult. If it's dry out though (a first for me racing in Barrie) I can get close.
Cheers, and thanks for reading!
At Muskoka, my goal was to go sup 1:15. I missed the goal by :45, by I'm still happy with the result as it was my fastest ever run, and gave me the confidence to feel like I can be a fast runner.
At Huronia, my goal was to bike sub 34, and run sub 22. Bike sub 34 is impossible at that course, as both of your transition times are included in the bike, and it is a 21.5km bike route with a large hill, some minor inclines, and sketchy road surface. I did, however, ride 38:00+, so I'm happy with that. I came close to running a sub 22:00, running a 22:30, again showing that my speed has improved a lot. It was hot and I didn't pace myself properly. I did, however, finish 2nd in my Age Group and 5th Overall!
At Bala, my goal was to run a sub 35:00. I thought it was only a 7km run (got it confused with Orillia), as it turned out to be a 7.5km run. BUT: I did achieve this goal! I ran 34:43, which is crazy for me! This is a hilly course, and I normally see my pace drop significantly as I run up hills, but I was able to maintain a consistent 4:30ish pace. I finished 4th in my Age Group which bummed me because I missed the podium by :38, but I knew I'd have to go 1:44 for a podium (did 1:45:08) and the guy that passed me with 1km to go runs a sub 3:00 marathon, so I'm not complaining!
Next up I have the Barrie Sprint. I have a lot of trouble getting pumped for this race, but hopefully this year is different. My goals are lofty: sub 30:00 bike (I'd have to average over 40km/h on the bike) and/or a sub 20:00 run (have to average sub 4:00 km pace for the run). I think I can do the sub 20:00 if I really push myself, but the bike will be very difficult. If it's dry out though (a first for me racing in Barrie) I can get close.
Cheers, and thanks for reading!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Original Point of this Blog
Here's what I wrote two years ago:
Welcome to my (Matt Doucette's) blog. Here I will be keeping you up to date as I work my way towards an Ironman Triathlon. The goal is to have this done by 2012. I'm more of a talker than a writer (and even then, many say I can't talk properly...pathetic for an English teacher!), but I hope to provide a humorous look at my seasons from training to races, goals that I've achieved, or set too high. I don't want to just throw out training stats; I want to be able to let you know what it's like for me as I work to accomplishing my goal: Ironman 2012
I haven't read this post in a while, but I knew what it entailed. The ultimate goal being an Ironman race in 2012. Shoot, guess I should sign up for one. Oh wait, I already did! Next August 19th, 2012 I will be competing in the inaugural Ironman race at the beautiful Mont Tremblant. It's going to be scary, nervous, exhausting, painful, DEATH, but...it's going to be a wonderful experience. The last two years have been such an amazing experience. I have accomplished many firsts, and have improved immensely. Fact: I was faster by 20 minutes from my first ever sprint at Muskoka to this year's Muskoka sprint. I have learned how to push myself to the boundaries, and do what it takes to win. Each race I work on something different in the hopes of making myself a complete triathlete. All in all, I am no longer compliant with just finishing. I'm now trying to win.
Welcome to my (Matt Doucette's) blog. Here I will be keeping you up to date as I work my way towards an Ironman Triathlon. The goal is to have this done by 2012. I'm more of a talker than a writer (and even then, many say I can't talk properly...pathetic for an English teacher!), but I hope to provide a humorous look at my seasons from training to races, goals that I've achieved, or set too high. I don't want to just throw out training stats; I want to be able to let you know what it's like for me as I work to accomplishing my goal: Ironman 2012
I haven't read this post in a while, but I knew what it entailed. The ultimate goal being an Ironman race in 2012. Shoot, guess I should sign up for one. Oh wait, I already did! Next August 19th, 2012 I will be competing in the inaugural Ironman race at the beautiful Mont Tremblant. It's going to be scary, nervous, exhausting, painful, DEATH, but...it's going to be a wonderful experience. The last two years have been such an amazing experience. I have accomplished many firsts, and have improved immensely. Fact: I was faster by 20 minutes from my first ever sprint at Muskoka to this year's Muskoka sprint. I have learned how to push myself to the boundaries, and do what it takes to win. Each race I work on something different in the hopes of making myself a complete triathlete. All in all, I am no longer compliant with just finishing. I'm now trying to win.
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