Last Sunday, I drafted an email to coach: Can we switch up this week’s bike workouts? I’m really bored / tired of these.
Because I can only take 30-minute intervals at all the watts for so long, and this workout (and another similar one) has been in TrainingPeaks for-what-seems-like-ever. But, I got distracted and forgot to hit send, and early Monday morning… there they were, the same bike workouts, except with another five minutes tacked on (eventually they’ll be up to 45 minutes).
There’s nothing easy about these intervals… they push me far out of my comfort zone, physically for sure, but even more so mentally – which may be the hardest part. In the spirit of Girl Talk lyrics: Where’s your head at?
What gets me through: Focusing on each session and how it relates to my long-term goals. Staying in the present moment keeps my head in the game and makes time tick by a little bit faster. Breaking intervals into five-minute blocks helps, too… because I (and you) can do anything for five minutes. And, most importantly: Remembering why I’m training in the first place. (Watch out, CdA!)
Believe you can, and anything’s possible.
8 Comments
AHH! What a drag, but you’re right, there is a reason for the workout, so just trust it.
I hate the longer intervals, but true – they’re important so we can push harder, longer come race day! Keep it up!
Good reminders. There are so many ways to get through tough workouts. I had an FTP test this morning and I just closed my eyes for the second half and told myself I could do anything for 10 more minutes. But man, sometimes this sport pushes us so far out of our comfort zone. Way to work through your intervals and stay positive. Big goals call for big courage. Keep up the good work Erin!!
Good reminders as I have a couple of longer intervals on the bike coming up. Breaking it up into chunks definitely helps the mental component of it! Keep working hard!! You are going to crush all the competition in CdA 🙂
You’re going to do so amazing come race day; keep pushing through those hard and painful workouts! I’m inspired and cheering for you 🙂
You can do every interval at certain paces. You can swim, run, and bike all you want. But it really comes down to mental strength. It is huge! So as long as you are doing those intervals and you are hitting your numbers…you are getting somewhere. Here is to 15 weeks of boring!! 🙂 It will be here before we know it anyway!!
This hard work you’re putting in now will all pay off! In my best Canadian accent–>”no doubt about it” 😉
Watch out cDA is right! You are going to crush it and I can’t wait to see it all unfold:) It makes me feel better to know that even for YOU (miss superstar cyclist) intervals can get hard! I am now going to be switching gears, no pun intended;), to serious bike mode. I’ll remember what you said here to get me through! Stay in the present, and look at the BIG picture #KONA here we come.