Going Longer Part 2: Adapt or Fail

In considering going longer, adapting--to training, lifestyle changes, cold water, and more--isn’t just a perk that can help you get faster and be on top of your mental game, it’s a requirement. In going longer, you either adapt or you fail.

If you’ve done an endurance sport, you know that it’s common to have difficult issues pop up--crashing on your bike, getting kicked in the face during the swim, getting blisters on the run, and so on. The longer the event, the longer the list can become.

The longer you race or train, the longer you are asking your body and mind to engage in some really tough forward movement. An Ironman isn’t twice as hard as a half-Ironman, it is exponentially as tough. If you’re racing a 7-hour half-Ironman event, you don’t just need a bit more food and water than you do for an international distance race, you need a lot more, and you need to refine your calorie intake to meet the demands of the distance.

To go longer, you need to learn to emotionally shrug off environmental discomfort and deal with it rationally, because 14, 15, or 17 hours are too long to be pissed off at the heat and wind. You are required to adapt to significant structural discomfort and mental struggle. These become part of your everyday existence in training, and you adapt to move with them and not fight them. 

From: Triathlon Revolution: Training, Technique and Inspiration

Going Longer Part 1: Embracing the Unknown

Many people do endurance sport because it tests their resolve. They get value from those tests--information about strengths and clarity on weaknesses. Taking on an event that is longer than anything you’ve done before places you on the stage of the unknown. This can be a scary place, but if you are methodical and intelligent, you can manage that fear and move into your test with some sense of belief you can achieve. You may ponder, “Am I good enough?” When going long, the answers are loud and clear.

The people who choose to step onto that unknown stage and perform know the value in taking risks. Each long day of training or racing sets a new stage, a new opportunity, a new view of self, a higher value. There is significant value to going longer than you’ve gone before, and those who have know this. Those who seek going longer, sense it, and may build their own opportunities to go longer.

“Going Longer” in Perspective

When considering taking your race distance up a notch, you need to embrace this change with eyes wide open. Going longer will not only place demands on your time, it will require you to change up your perspective on your sport in various ways. Over the next several weeks I'll offer a few critical perspectives to consider when looking at going longer. Stay tuned!

- from: Triathlon Revolution: Training, Technique and Inspiration

Take the Pressure Off while Building Your Base

Unless you live in an area where training outside may be unsafe due to snow, ice, or extreme weather, there is no reason to not get outside. A bit chilly? Wear the proper clothing to accommodate for cold or wind chill. Raining? You get wet anyway when you are swimming, so what’s the issue? The plethora of high-tech clothing and shoes leaves you with no excuse to stay indoors on winter weekends, and chances are, you may have the roads or trails to yourself!

If you are consistent, steady, and disciplined, you will have a long, strong base come March and be in position to add speed to your program. Remember, after some downtime, it will take a while for you to get back into your usual routine and you may slip up and miss workouts more than you do during the season. Take the pressure off, enjoy your easy time on the roads, and you’ll be back up to speed in no time.

If your training is intelligently structured, you will hit your first spring event ready to race with a solid core of strength. The more engaged you are with your playtime and your off-season training, the more enjoyable that first season race will be.