I have been having a hard time coming up with material to write about.
I am not sure what it is, but the thing between my ears just quits working when I try to write about my last run in the cold/snow/rain or bike in the paincave.
I guess they haven’t been that notable to me lately.
I think what is notable is the way my attitude about training has changed.
I think when I did IMLP in 2011, I was all nervous – it was something I hadn’t done before and I stuck to the training because I was scared not to. For IMMT, I was overwhelmed by a lot of new things, and so I training just seemed like another (optional) thing I had committed myself to do. It became a burden.
This time, it is different. I am seeing gains in my performance and training that I never thought I would.
The thing is, I am not really 100% sure WHAT is different. But one thing I know is, I have made rules for myself and I am sticking to them. Some of them are:
1) Eat a high fat diet with no sugar and no grains.
I first heard this on Vinnie Tortorich’s podcast, and I thought I would give it a try for two weeks. That was about 5 months ago. I have lost 22 pounds and kept it off. Yes, I had treats over the holidays and on special occasions I will have a slice of birthday cake, but overall, I am staying away from the sugar and grains. What I have found is that when I eat them, I feel like crap.
I am not 100% sure what this means for training yet, but what I have found is that since I do not eat sugar, if I have a single sugary…say chomp in a race, I take off like lightning.
In my head, the reason is this: eating fat is like throwing a nice log on the fire, it burns long and slow…sugar is like throwing dry straw on the fire, it burns fast and hot, but then you are back down to that slow burn.
I am not really sure how this is going to translate to an 8 hour training day yet, but I am working it out.
2) Eat lots of veggies.
Organic when I can (this is Caratunk in February, you are lucky to find anything here that is green (in a good way) and not wilted).
3) I am living what I am saying.
I am that person that wakes up at 4am and runs or bikes (or swims). I eat my burger without the bun, shun the french fries for a big ass salad (without croutons), and make smoothies that have kale, almonds, and coconut oil as staple ingredients.
I totally own that. I don’t really care that people think I am weird or crazy.
What is funny is that people are starting to accept it as me. The other day at a birthday party one of my relatives came up to me with a slice of cake on a plate, ready to offer it and then said, “Oh yeah, you don’t eat cake,” and walked away.
I almost dove on the plate as she turned to offer it to the next person (it was carrot cake, the most delicious cake in the world).
4) Don’t let what people say get to me.
I had two things said to me in the past week that bothered me (until I remembered I wasn’t going to let that crap bother me.)
At a lunch with a full table of people, someone asked me if I was actually going to do the Ironman this year. It is a fair question – this person only knows of my DNF at IMMT. But it bugged me and made me question myself a little, and I think I even got a little defensive (I had gotten up at 4am to drive 90 mins to the pool that morning after all.)
The other one was – someone told me with lots of…conviction…that I should be doing these races to win. I laughed (because of course I thought he was kidding) but then I realized he wasn’t. I said I don’t train for Ironman races because I am competing to win, it more of a personal goal, an experience.
I told him it really wouldn’t be as fun for me to train and race in the way you need to in order to be competitive. Besides, I am just really far away from the pointy end of the stick. Plus, to get to that level, you have to race all serious. Serious isn’t fun.
He looked at me with a baffled look and said, “Winning wouldn’t be fun?”
Well, of course it would be fun jackass. But let’s be realistic with our expectations here – I am…more of an entertainer and socialite on the course than a winner (exploit your talents I say).
When he found out that there was ~ 4+ hours between my time and the person who wins (I am a 15:02 IMLP finisher), he laughed and said “You must not try very hard.”
Go ahead, scream. I wanted to.
Anyway, I can’t control the way people act, think, speak, or treat me. I can only control my reaction. SO I swallowed my bubbling rage and just said (very nicely), “Well yes, I try hard, it is just I try to manage my expectations and keep them realistic.”
I was pretty proud of myself.
Do you have new (or old) rules that you have found are working for you? What are they?
Thanks for reading!
Great post my friend. This is awesome.
I am still baffled by the whole no sugar thing. I mean fruit has sugar, honey has sugar, vegetables can even contain sugar so how does that work.
Can you give me a typical day of eating for yourself?
And the changes made to a diet can have immediate and noticeable changes in performance.
Keep doing what you are doing b/c it is working for you and you only have to worry about you!
Sent you an email, but will have a post of “a day of eating” because I have gotten this question a lot. Processed sugar is what I stay away from, so fruits & veggies are GOOD!
Can I punch them?! Please?? I wanna be like you when I grow up.
Hahaha, they didn’t realize what they were saying. It is hard to explain to someone who doesn’t come from endurance sports…some people only know team sports, you know? It is hard to explain the difference
As always, You Rock! I am proud to know you!
You rock Kim! We need a game night!
clearly that person has no idea what it takes to train for an Ironman, let alone a 5k. That person no matter how hard he or she trained, likely could not win even a 5K if they wanted to. He just has no idea. You can’t let someone that ignorant about what you are doing bother you. So I think you did a great job.
Racing tris or road races are unlike other sports in that you would never ever get to play in the same basketball game against say, Michael Jordan, but in running you might get to race the same race as Joan Benoit. No one in their right mind would suggest that you can train enough to beat MJ in basketball. But yet, he suggests that you can beat the best in an Ironman. Just ignorant. That’s all.
Like I said to Adena, I think that when someone comes from a team sport background, with no knowledge of endurance sports, I think it is hard to wrap your brain around. In team sports, you play to win, you always try to win. It is completely different in endurance sports, and I think some people have a hard time with that.
Good for you, girl!! That fat stuff is really going to help you for your next IM. I was working with a coach for awhile here who really pressed the high (good) fats and said they will fuel me better in longer endurance races than any carbs. Great job on the weight loss, too…I think we’ve lost exactly the same – yay!
That is awesome Jill!!
I can really relate to this post. I keep reminding myself that quote from the 2012 Kona special “If they have to ask, they wouldnt understand”
I am still battling mentally with my failed attempt at training for an 140.6 in 2011, and I have plenty of people that like to remind me of it as well. It adds stress, knowing that I failed, but it also drives me as well.
Things have changed for me as well, I think, maybe it might be the same for you as well, is my mind set. I feel mentally tougher, I realize that I am a veteran racer now, yes I havent completed an 140.6, but I have a ton of race experience under my belt, I had good races and some freaking awful ones. We know what needs to be done, what we dont need to worry about, punch the clock and just do it.
Under 150 days!!
Eeek! So excited we are racing on the same day!
Alright… where is he at? I’m going to punch him. Seriously… I’ll take his ass out!
22lbs!?!?!! You rock Mandy!
I look a lot different than when you saw me
I hear ya friend. I think the worst for me is when people tell me that “I’m crazy” for training for an Ironman or when people express quite concern that I’m neglecting my kids while training. It hurts but I also know that my kids don’t miss me at 4:30 am when I’m on my bike downstairs either. That maybe people’s negativity is more about them than about me. I’m sure the people that said these things to you have bigger issues with themselves.
I’m friends with a pro (he was 2nd in IM LOU) and he gave me some tips on grains. Basically to not eliminate them but to scale back and DON’T eat them for dinner if can be helped. I think I started scaling back on them after you said you felt so good. There’s nothing worse than eating a heavy sandwich for lunch right? Or a big pasta dinner and slipping into a coma. And I started to notice a difference. Same with sugar. I had 2 donuts for breakfast the other morning and then went for a 6 mile run and had a PR. Yeah, shit was like jet fuel.
Yeah, it has to be tough with kids, I feel bad about leaving my dog Porter sometimes! Haha
Totally right on the nutrition stuff! I am staying away from grains completely. I might use rice as my volume increases.
Oh my word! Those comments are HORRIBLE! Don’t listen to them a bit. Obviously, they have no idea what they are talking about. You’re doing your thing, and just keep it going. We’re all proud of you, and I think it’s awesome that you can say you’re an Ironman. I’m hoping to say that come August 25! Keep up the good work!
Matt, you are totally going to rock it! I will be stalking you!
People like that are the reason why all my good friends now are endurance athletes. The rest of the world just doesn’t get us – screw ‘em.
You are absolutely crushing it and are going to lay waste to the IMLP course this year.
If I ever finished an Ironman, it would be after 10:00PM and that would be trying with all my might. I would cry and feel like I won. Too bad for those that can’t be satisfied with a personal challenge that isn’t recognized with a #1 by your name. Why else would 2,000 people enter any one of these races.
True! I said below to a few folks, I think it is because some folks come from a team sport background where you play to win, that’s the point of the game. So it is harder for them to understand endurance sports and “playing” just because it makes you feel good about yourself.
Thanks Jeff! I’m using your plan so OFCOURSE ill crush it
haha
4.00 a.m., too early: you are an inspiration!
Great post.
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
So true. You can’t control other people, just worry about yourself and do what is best for you. I love that you see yourself as the entertainer and socialite! I have said that for a while about myself on the tennis court. I don’t like intense competition, I just want to make sure everyone has a good time. Reasonable expectations
Totally true!! I am definitely an entertainer on the course! haha
People that ask about winning races clearly do not understand the sport. =)
I am happy to see that others are also putting life into living. I wanted wine last night so I had some. If I want it bad enough I’m going to have it, I’m just not having it every day =). I don’t think I had drank in over a month, let’s just say it hit me like a ton of bricks and it was a pitfully small glass.
True – some folks just don’t get it! I haven’t drank since December! I actually don’t miss it at all. Crazy, right?
I think you are so right in that he just doesn’t get it. Doesn’t make it right for him to say something like that, but sometimes you just have to shake your head and walk away. You are a better person than most of us because we obviously all have anger issues and want to punch him!
I love the changes you have made… I think you are going to have an amazing year!
I freaking miss you!! I need to figure out how to get down there and see you ASAP!