Is Comparison Sabotaging My Triathlon Progress?
It has been 12 weeks since the training for this upcoming 70.3 has started. I have learned a lot about myself during this time. Some of it is ‘old news’ while other lessons are new. This process has been both pleasant while also challenging which is to be expected when you choose to take on an event. Triathlon training is back and so is progress comparison. Thinking of previous cycles has been hard to avoid. Am I swimming enough? Can I be fast enough on the bike? Is my run fitness improving?  These questions started in Week 1 and at the end of week 12 there seem to be some answers.
The Trap of Comparison: Ironman vs. 70.3
The volume that I am training at feels light but my comparison is to Ironman and 100 milers. As they say, comparison is the thief of joy. This resonated with me during the last week of September. It was a recovery week and the volume was lower than what has been. I wondered if I was doing enough and then remembered that the volume should be lower. The distance I am racing is not 100+ miles.
Fitness Metrics: A Closer Look at the Data
When I look at Training Peaks and Garmin, the numbers tell me that I am comparing something that shouldn’t be compared. According to Training Peaks, my fitness over the last 90 days is up 22 points. That is before the longer hours of training kick in and the fitness will start to spike. I am in a good place but that doesn’t mean everything is utopia.
The fly in the soup of this training is my running fitness. In the last 90 days, I have lost two points. How? This doesn’t make much sense to me. Then again, it should. 90 days ago I was running 50 miles at Tahoe 200 which spiked my running fitness.
Since then, the focus has been on triathlon and not just running. When you divide your time amongst three sports versus one, then one is going to be impacted. What is interesting is that the impact isn’t that I’m not fit, it is just that I’m not as fit as I was when I went 50 miles.
Running Setbacks: Why Less Can Feel Like More
Today, I am doing more speed work and shorter runs. After all, the distance of the run at a 70.3 is 13.1 miles and not 50 miles. That speed work is also paying off. How do I know?
- In the last set of intervals of 30s On / 30s Off, the 30s On all averaged under 7:00 per mile and I didn’t feel wiped out when I was done.
- The brick run off the bike has gone from 9:30 per mile to 8:44 per mile and for a longer distance.
Comparison is the thief of joy and this training cycle, with regards to the run is a perfect example of this.
Reconnecting with Swimming: Finding Joy in the Water
Simultaneously, the cycling and swimming have seen fantastic results. Not only are the results showing up but the enjoyment of the training is peaking. Swimming 2-3x per week has been glorious as they are all outside in the gorgeous weather. The knowledge that I’ll be outdoors while swimming has made a big difference in my mental approach to swimming.
In the past, my swim training was indoors. I would finish the set and leave immediately. Today, the lane is reserved for an hour, that means no worries about a full pool but also much more. The sets are at a max of 2200 yards which will take approximately 45 minutes. That gives me 15 minutes to continue to swim versus leaving right away. That 15 minutes is another 500 to 600 yards and they are done on a 50 yard basis where I try to stay even. It becomes a game and one that allows me to know my body and form better than if I just left the pool.
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Cycling Progress: Climbing Without Exhaustion
Cycling is coming back and I can feel it. Sure, I have data that also tells me this information but the feeling of being one with the bike cannot be ignored. Prior to this training, a 1 hour easy ride would be considered a pain to do and not because of the ride but rather all the preparation. Today, that is not an issue. I look forward to clipping in and going.
The area that I train in is all uphill and that isn’t an exaggeration. From the first pedal stroke out of my house the climb starts. After 5 miles it is done and has nearly 600 feet of climbing. The first time I did this section, my pace was 12.3 mph and it took me nearly 25 minutes to complete. The last time I did this route, the time was 22 minutes and 30 seconds at a speed of 13.3 mph.
More than the increase in speed was the lack of exhaustion at the peak. Instead of stopping to catch my breath, I crested and then descended. This descent was fearless as I hit nearly 33 mph and didn’t touch the brakes.
Mindset Shift: Moving Forward with Confidence
When I discuss feel on the bike, these are perfect examples of what I mean. If that wasn’t enough, there was the last section of the ride. After a short downhill there is a shart right hand turn into an uphill. I reminded myself to ease into the turn and then explode out of the turn.
That mindset hit hard and I did just that. The climb to the top of that last section was easy and finished with a huge smile on my face. I knew right then and there that I was reconnected to my bike.
The Road Ahead: Preparing for Race Day
I still haven’t registered for this race as there are many variables at play but the closer we get the closer I get to pressing the register button. There is an Olympic distance triathlon in November that will be the determining factor in going forward. As long as the triathlon training continues to progress then comparison to yesteryear will stop. Focusing on the present will lead me to pressing the registration button.
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