Crunch Time - by Ali Vincent

I have been introducing a new form of working out as of lately. I started doing CrossFit workouts a couple weeks ago. CrossFit I think is great but a little confusing because the high intensity workouts last about 15 minutes maximum. Although I am grateful for my Pilates core strength so that I don’t injury myself, these workout are feeling a lot like the workouts on the Biggest Loser campus. I feel stronger everyday but have been wondering if I should just be concentrating on my swim, bike, and run. I have been swimming three times a week but have not been doing any type of intervals in the pool. Swimming allows my body to stretch out and it is where I am able to relax. Now is not the time to relax and I have to find the strength to get the experience out of my hour long pool workout as I feel in my 15 minutes CrossFit workouts, I think I need a coach. I know that many out there are able to push themselves on their own but I also believe that no matter how good a person is at pushing themselves on their own, it is human nature to perform better for others. Well I want to do better than I did last year and as far as I can tell I need to work on my running and transitions but isn’t it interesting that I automatically thought about getting a coach for my strongest leg instead of my weakest.

Last year I was out of the water first for my division, then lost over a minute in each of my transitions and the running, it’s almost embarrassing. I know running is NEVER going to be my strongest leg but for crying out loud, I lost over 10 minutes in my run! I think some of the pros finished the whole run course in 10 minutes. So crunch time for me is going to be working on my running. I’ve never ran the pace of the winner of my division last year but if I concentrate and work hard I have to have faith that my body will allow me to pick up the pace.

I am going back to the basics I will continue with the CrossFit as I think that hardcore quick training will help me improve my transition times but I am going to take advantage of the training program on the race website www.nauticasobetri.com/training.cfm Feel free to re-think your training program and check in with where you are at. Do you feel like you are setting yourself up to win? If not, tell the truth and go back to the basic’s.

Also if you are planning on shipping your bike you need to get the plan for that asap and make sure you have all your race gear together. I can’t wait to bring you all the exciting details from the actual event, it promises to be yet another spectacular event.

Until next week,

Ali xo