Mastering the Suck

Just a collection of random thoughts this week. The above title was from something I read recently when describing how one completes one of the world’s toughest endurance events, Badwater (something I may try to do www.badwater.com). The interviewee went on to say, completing this event is possible only when you learn to “master the suck”. While I generally try and avoid working through life under a negative back-drop, the description did have meaning to me. I’ve had my share of "Sucky" things happen in life, but I never feel like I can’t find a solution or a way to learn from it. Here is an example; when doing a really hard training brick like I had yesterday I knew I was going to run in temperatures that were close to 100degrees with the heat index, huge climb, not enough gel on me and pressures of so many other things I had to do with work, etc. Prior to starting the workout, I get all excited because I know for that 1.5 hour brick, I know I can master the suck under any circumstances! Yesterday, there were 4-5 opportunities to justify cutting the route short or give in to a side-stitch or a stomach cramp. Every time something like this happens, I really try and isolate and work through the issue because I know it will subside as long as I resolve to make it happen. It truly is mastering the suck like I did in Lake Placid and in so many other areas of my life. If I can do it, you can too!

Post IMLP
It’s been somewhat of a surprise how flat I’ve been after IMLP. I was aware that post IMLP it would be difficult to recover and it has. Only this week have I felt that my legs have come back a little and only in the last two days have I been able to bend over without pain and inflate my lung from my rib injury. It’s also been a bit of a chore to find the motivation to ramp back into 20 hour training weeks. The workouts were also flat, but getting better and nice to be able to complete with no pain.

I am looking forward to getting back into the water next week to bring back the swimming base. I’m not sure how this is going to go with the rib. Pumpkinman 70.3 is right around the corner and I need swim volume. Jesse as usual has been phenomenal with creating a great approach with recovery and scheduling.

This weekend is filled with huge rides and runs. I’ve basically come out of IMLP with active rest and straight into preparation for IM Utah. In addition, the DC marathon is about 8 week away and I’ll be gunning for a PR of close to 3:00 hours or 45 less than my lat PR at IMLP. It’s amazing that my first marathon 2 years ago was completed at 6 hours and 30 minutes.