Get on with it

Sometimes you just need those little reminders.

Despite my procrastination with my run yesterday afternoon, in the end  I did get out and go. 

And it went well. 

The session was a reminder that we often over think training. I have said it before, and I will no doubt say it again (mostly to myself), sometimes you just need to shut up and do it (perhaps Nike are on to something there). Have a little faith in your body and in your training. That is a lesson I need to constantly remind myself of. The body has an amazing capacity to surprise you. Which given it is your body is particularly surprising, but there you go. 

The run last night was one of the best runs I have had in a long time. Not super quick, but quicker than I have been. As I was hoping yesterday, I managed to pace it better and so by the end I was still feeling strong. But the pacing was just part of the equation, the other part was that running just plain felt better. In fact that is the real key to why it was a good run, not because it was a quicker, but because for the first time in ages I felt good. The run I had off the bike on Sunday gave me some hope that running was starting to come back to together and the run last night has kindled that hope just a little bit more. Still a long way to go, but for now I will settle for enjoying running again. Get over that hurdle and the rest should take care of itself. 

The swim down with the Swim Smooth squad this morning was less sunshine and sugar coated cherries. It wasn't a bad swim, but it wasn't great either. The bulk of the session went well, but there were some long efforts that did me in. I am not sure why, but I never seem to be able to have all three legs feel good in training at once. Riding is a bit of a rock for me, usually feels good. Swimming often does, and running usually doesn't. Now that running is feeling a bit better, I guess swimming has to come off the boil in order to keep the universe in balance or something. 

Still I am not giving up on swimming without a fight. That is why I was stubbornly in the pool until the death this morning. Experience has shown me that swimming usually comes good again if I persevere with it and just give it time. During tough sessions like this morning it is very (very very) tempting to give it up as fool's errand and call the session early. However, I know that I don't get quicker at swimming by not swimming. In fact I have never heard of anyone who does. So for sessions like this morning it is a case of grit the teeth and soldier on. The feel for the water will come back and so will the speed. Just needs a little patience and perseverance. 

Now moving away from training. Anyone who has read a bit of this blog will know I like a bit of technology. I am not particularly unique there, triathletes generally like their gadgets. So this week I have been quite excited to see that Garmin IQ has started rolling out. Garmin IQ is a platform on which developers can make software and apps for certain Garmin products. Last night I downloaded a new watch face for my Garmin 920XT.

I am not entirely sold on the new watch face yet, but I love the idea that we live in a world where this is even possible. The system is still pretty new, but already there are some interesting apps and tools available. When I get home I am going to download an app which allows me to track my resting heart rate on the Garmin, which is a functionality I have always wished it had. Yes I know starting an indoor run session and then sitting on the couch does the same thing, but I have never liked the idea that I have to bodge it to make it do such a basic task. Optional software that allows you to customise your watch. Pretty nifty. 

I was also reading about a new website being developed to make sessions on the trainer more interesting called Zwift. I had heard that this was in development, but now it is apparently open to Beta testing. Basically it is like online gaming for your bike. You connect your trainer to your computer, jump into Zwift and you can ride around a course with other people, while the software controls the trainer. I haven't used it, and given my inherent laziness with things like this I probably won't. But I love the idea of it. The future is now!!!

Don't get me wrong I am not a huge fan of technology for technology's sake. I won't rush out and buy the latest phone simply because it is the latest phone. But I do think that technology can play a big part in our training if we want it to. It certainly doesn't have to, and it should never be thought of as a silver bullet to your training woes, but the right tool can make a difference I think. Finding that right tool can be the tricky thing sometimes.