notes from the aging process....and more....
-My run has really taking a hit of about :45/mile in the past 2 years (and lets face it, I already sucked as a runner) and it doesn't make sense.....sure I had knee surgery on the meniscus but I wasn't out that long and I trained consistently before and after.....its now been 6 months. The only thing missing is consistent speed work and I guess that could cost me :45/mile......maybe....I am hoping I can get this back....I will give it a good shot but there are no guarantees....especially at 58. I am already thinking how I might train to get it back....next year.....this year I am just letting it go and trying to really limit my running so try and let healing progress farther before making a structured effort to get faster......
-Next year Kari and I have decided on a big hike trip to the Val Gardena area of Italy in the Dolomites . I am excited to go to one of the most scenic area in the world for hiking. We will also both compete in a mountain trail race thats kind of a big deal
http://www.grossglocknerberglauf.at/en.html I will have to get my run back to be able to do this and not be off the back.....
-I have gotten to the part of life where some events I am interested in are beyond me.....so be it.....just have to look for adventures that are doable but I do have some regrets that I didn't do them when I was capable. The 2 day Canadian Ski Marathon comes to mind....sigh.....
-Recovery......wow, I didnt have major issues with this until the last 4 years and it seems to erode every year.....I need 4-5 days to recover from a hard race now....have to stick to easy recovery workouts when I used to bounce back and train hard after 2 days.....
-....and based on what I wrote above my "ramp up" training period to do speed work and prepare for an event is much longer now.....no quite double the time but I would say 75% more time.
-note on events: its easy to take the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon for granted since its always been there for so long....but its a really well done event. The swim is well marked rectangle with buoys frequent enough to site and the swim run and bike are great courses..... Its a great bench mark for me since they have not changed the course since 1996 when I first started doing it (assuming the run turn around for the short course is always in the same spot...and I think it is....this year was the first time I was not under 60 minutes......in 1996 I was doing it at 50 min flat....20 years later I am at 60....I likely will not do it next year but 2 years from now I want to come back and get under 60 minutes at 60.....racing my age or under might be a good goal from me....
-I have been talking about this but here is whats happen....Triathlon participation grew huge from 2008-2012 right after the great recession....lots of fun first timers on mt bike and women giving sprint biathlons a whirl...I knew it could not continue and expected a leveling off but what happened surprised me...it plunged!....we have lost 25-30% of participation in just 2 years.....the size of the drop has been surprising...where will it be in the next few years?...not sure