On being really damn slow
Today I went to my Triathlon Club running workout. Coach seems real good, and allayed my fears about my heartrate by referring me to an article on his website. But I have really jumped into the deep end here. I’m training with athletes who are way above my level, and that’s good. I have room to grow and these are all people that can help me along. Everyone’s a beginner at some point.
I kind of wish my high school had a track or cross-country team. I think I might have really gotten into it then. Instead, I’m getting into it now.
After the warm-ups and the exercises, we got to jump in to intervals, which is something I’ve been wanting to try for a while. I was placed in a “slow” team of people that do 7:30 miles in the 5K. I can do 9:30 miles. Eventually I realized (the coach noticed me huffing and puffing and pointed out to me) that trying to stay up with them was just too much for me. So I dripped down and interval training turned into slow, then rest, then slow until I finished the set.
Then I came homeâwalked from Kezar over the hill to my apartmentâand my legs are hurting like I don’t remember them ever hurting. It’s all just muscle soreness, so I’m not worried, but I’m impressed that an hour workout that wasn’t even all running would be so intense.
It’s a good thing, yeah, but I am tired. Too tired to eat, and that’s NOT a good thing. I’d better go downstairs and eat.
He makes good points about
He makes good points about the dubiousness of arbitrary HR targets, but then entirely fails to suggest concrete alternatives.
Is that something you get if you train with him?
Just saying “don’t worry about the arbitrary numbers” is useless to me if the arbitrary numbers are not replaced with a better system.