Winter Rut

This was my toughest week so far…mentally.  February is usually a tough month for me.  Although I enjoy running in the snow I am ready to take a couple layers off and not have to worry about icy patches.  I enjoy listening to music while dripping puddles of sweat next to my Computrainer, but nothing beats climbing a mountain for over an hour or pushing the pace during an already tough group ride.  It’s always a good feeling crushing a swim set you didn’t think you could make, but open water swimming is by far one of my favorite aspects of this sport.  Who wouldn’t love to watch the sunrise across the lake each morning, swim to an icy waterfall, or see a bald eagle as you follow a kayak in the U.P. of Michigan? 

What do you do to push through these tough winter months?  Your “A race” may be far enough away so pushing that early morning workout doesn’t seem as important today as it might in 10 weeks.  What drives you to spend hours on stationary exercise equipment?  What motivates you to put that wind-proof jacket and chapstick on and head out the door into single digit weather?  What pushes you to jump into that cold water when you’d rather walk around the pool and join the people staring at you in the hot tub?  It’s the fact that somewhere in the world there are athletes training in warmer climates, meeting training goals, and pushing the limit just so they can beat you.  It’s because you know how bad it hurts in the middle of a race and what you do today has a direct impact as to whether you push past that hurt or slow down.  If you are reading this and not a triathlete you still know what I’m talking about.  You can hide under bulky clothes in the winter, but come spring you are going to have to pull out last year’s shorts and see if the winter holiday sweets had any lasting effects.  Staying healthy is important no matter what your age- you should look at exercise as preventative medicine. 

Find something to motivate you.  New training gear (look to the right for the discount code).  Sign up for an early spring race (next weekend’s Rev3 race in Costa Rica is out, but there are plenty others).  If your town has one, do the Splash-n-Dash series – (Dayton has one this weekend: http://www.speedy-feet.com/race-entry.php?id=268).  If you're in Ohio head out to the Wheelie Fun sale this weekend and catch up with everyone.  Call up a friend and ask him/her to make up a workout for you.  Plan a long training weekend.  Punxsutawney Phil, I hope you’re right in forecasting an early spring but I’m trying all the above just in case!

 miss