Last week I just finished devising a 20 week Ironman programme which starts in May and runs until the Ironman itself in September. I've made it as suitable as possible to my current work load and tried my best to make it as adaptable to my life with making it a big part of my life BUT NOT LET IT TAKE OVER EVERYTHING!!
I'm not just saying this because I'm lazy or looking for excuses to train less. Anybody that knows me will say I train my absolute ass off so I'm not for excuses. I'm actually adamant that less can be more even for an event of this stature. Reasons being:
1) Last year I went through a faze of training 100miles a week of running. Granted I'd struggle to do that at the moment but looking back I was too tired for anything social with my mates and even if I did join in I'd be so ridiculously tired from all the training that I'd be a complete bore. During this time I ran a 2.59 marathon - I remember I was exhausted at the start line due to all the training so I have no doubt with LESS training but more quality I could get nearer 2.50.....and I'd have a life - 100%!
2) I was running 3-4 runs a week but all fast/tempo and upped it to 5-6 runs peaking at 50miles a week. A big drinking event was never far away and in this time I ran a 1.18 half marathon. That should make me a fair bit faster than a 2.59 marathon. This whilst only training 4 days a week and out most weekends where shoots of tequila, jagerbombs and the dance floor was never far away. I was trying less and beating PB's!
3) A more recent example is for cycling. October through to January I hardly went on the bike but I do remember doing a 2hr cycle and managing 32miles. This shortly after I'd been training huge, huge volumes at running as well as some long cycles in the summer and coming 5th in a 50mile ultra. Forward to yesterday....Since January I've had a turbo trainer and ALL my sessions up till yesterday have all been max intensity 30-45min session on the indoor bike. I swear there has been nothing longer on the bike. I've trained 5 days a week instead of 6 or even 7 last year, but ALL my sessions have been all out effort to such an extent that some of my sessions on the turbo trainer have had to be done with no one else around as they seem to worry if I'M 'OK'!
I've been on some ridiculous drinking weekends with my mates on my 2 days off since early December, the last was a trip to Dublin for the Ireland vs Wales rugby match where er literally drunk, sung, ate McDonald's flat out, pulled huge shapes on the dance floor and probably had less sleep over 3 days than we usually get in one night. Yet come the Tuesday I had a hunger like I NEVER had last year when I was training 24/7 and all week performed some brilliant training session which ended yesterday in me trying the same 2hr cycling course I did last year when I got 32miles....Yesterday I got 38miles in 2 hrs on the same route!!
The best attitude I've ever switched to is not letting training take over all my life just be a great part of it and in turn I'm putting in some brilliant sessions, arguable the best ever. I've developed the ability to be able be able to find that 'switch off' button but when it's been time to cross that white line training wise I have in a big way lately.
4) Like I mentioned earlier that ability to be able to switch off that I seem to have been able to do in the last 6 months is benefiting me a lot and it's something I'm passing on to all my clients. Last year training wasn't fun but I just couldn't switch off so I kept going and going. People would say, 'Look how much he is training - he must be in ridiculous shape'. First off I will never be in 'ridiculous shape', I'm just someone who loves fitness and reaching goals that may be too far for me, I'm no pro how ever hard I train and neither is 95% of people who let training BE there life instead of be a big chunk of there life, people are almost afraid to cut back. My secret to being able to break PB's despite training less being way more relaxed with my nutrition is the fact that every time I put on my trainers, get on the bike or line up a big lift I'm loving it as much as I ever have!! I'm 100% this is all down to the fact I've learned to switch off and stop getting worked up about something that is sort of important but sort of not important at all!
Happy Training - Go hard or go home :)
Personal training blog as well as my own training and nutrition blogas lots of people have started asking me questions about my training and nutrition, how, why and when, what etc - il try and keep updates of training, nutrition and keep it open for any questions and advice. Also my training is not perfect and I'm always learning but it's just what I'm currently doing to live for the adventure and the next challenge!
