Normally I would not be proud of a 12th place finish, but today I am. Every month the triathlon club I belong to, Mid-Maryland Triathlon Club, and another triathlon club, Cambridge Multi-Sport, participates in a Virtual Training Camp Challenge. This is a friendly challenge where members submit their training time for the first seven days of the month via the internet. Each minute of swimming, biking and running is worth 1 point and all other exercise is worth .5 point.In the past I haven't participated in this challenge because I didn't think I could post big enough numbers. Some people in the club are absolutely crazy when it comes to training. Several are members of marathon maniacs, others compete in ultra-marathons , and still others are able to do an Ironman distance triathlon once or twice a year. It seems like nothing for them to go out on a 4 hour training run.
But this month I put my fear aside and posted my numbers. I placed 12th out of the 31 people from our club who took up the challenge! I averaged 79 points per day. I usually try for an hour a day anyway but since December I have been working on heart rate training. Based on calculations I have a set heart rate and I don't (or at least try) go over that set heart rate. With this new training method I don't wake up the next morning feeling dead tired and my body doesn't feel beat down. I will probably stick with this training method until I leave for Costa Rica (and then it will be shot to hell with all the drinking and laying in the sun I plan to do). After that it will be time to punish myself again. But hopefully this heart rate training will provide me with a good training base so I will be able to push myself a little farther and a little faster.
The other benefit of posting my numbers for others to see is it is a great motivator. Maybe next month I will try to move up in the ranks. I may have to take the week off of work though. The person who finished first for our club averaged just under 3 hours a day!
2 comments:
Yahoo! Congrats Jen! Way to go. Good luck in the coming weeks with your training. Keep the posts coming- they are pretty darn interesting.
Counterpoint: Interview with Dr. Buck R. Fosdick from the JAMA (Journal of American Medicine):
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'
AND.....
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. Hispanics tend to eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. Italians tend to drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. Germans tend to drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION
Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you
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