Team Work

Those who have been reading all this week will know that over the last couple of days I have been letting myself slowly settle back into normal routine after having a very disrupted weekend last week. Tuesday was all about getting some sleep, yesterday I got down the pool for some coaching and today I finally got back out and did some...EXERCISE.

As I wrote earlier this week my slow return to exercise hasn't been due to a lack of will, but rather giving myself time to get back into my rhythm without forcing it. At the beginning of the week I felt like I could have got myself out the door, but it probably would be have created more stress for me than it would have relieved. Now I am feeling much more on top of life and so the idea of getting out for exercise was something that was appealing, rather than feeling like a chore, which is just how it should feel. 

The exercise I decided to go with was getting out on the Paddle Board. No great reason for choosing that form of exercise other than it was what I felt like doing. It was a toss up between going paddling and going for a run and paddling won. I haven't been on the board for a couple of weeks and so with absence the heart had grown fonder. Running can wait for tomorrow I think, with riding being an activity for Saturday. 

The paddle this morning was a lot of fun. As many people will know, I like training by myself. It isn't that I don't like training with people, but just that I am quite happy being alone and doing my own thing. I quite like the independence that comes with doing your own thing, rather than being at the mercy of somebody else's plans and timing. However, sometimes I do train with people and when I do I am reminded of the benefits of doing so. I used to find exactly that with triathlon and I found it this morning with paddling. Working with a group of other people can be a great way of bringing an extra dimension of motivation and fun to a session. 

I am a big believer that long course triathletes should spend a fair bit of time training on their own. A long course triathlon is a solo affair that takes a lot of self motivation and drive. It is also an event where you need to be very comfortable spending time in your own head, particularly for an Ironman. On the bike it is also a sport where you have to push your own wind with no draft to hide behind. I feel that one of the best ways to develop the self reliance and strength required for long course racing is by practicing it in training, particularly in a person's long rides and runs.

Having said that though, I think there is also a place in Ironman training for squad sessions. I have always swum in a squad because personally I need the other people for motivation and enjoyment. Not everyone is like that, but it is something that I have learnt about myself over the years. Over the years I also learnt that I also got great benefit from doing some of my run sessions with a group. Not all of them, but some, particularly some of the sessions done at higher intensities, where a group can give you a little bit extra get up and go. As with any group session it is important that you are still training to your specific intensities and paces, rather than somebody else, but if you can find a group that is a good match for you, then it can be a great way to help you squeeze out those extra 1%ers. 

Speaking of squads, back down to Swim Smooth tomorrow to help out with the Friday morning Threshold sessions. Paul Newsome is back on pool deck and so tomorrow will be all about sitting back and watching the master at work, as always it will be a great session to get down for.