Endurance Coach

Endurance Coach

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Birkie Magic


I had at least 20 good reasons to not ski the Birkie this year.  The history-making mild winter meant no skiable snow within 5.5 hours of our house for most of January and February.  My kids were swimming in meets every weekend - all weekend long.  I threw my back out, my feet hurt and my knee was oddly swollen in the two weeks before the race.  Jeff was diagnosed with serious arthritis in his hip.  Both of my kids qualified for the Regional Swimming Championships - held during Birkie weekend.  As a mom, my overwhelming instinct was to stay at home and watch them swim.
But I also had the gut feeling that it was important to ski the race.  It is a race that has had a huge influence on my life.  Without the Birkie, I wouldn't have met Jeff.  Without the Birkie, I wouldn't have started canoe racing, which led to canoe triathlon, which led to bike racing, which led to triathlon, which led to coaching and all that I do today.  Without the Birkie, I wouldn't know some of my most treasured friends.
My gut also tells me that continuing to ski the Birkie will keep me fit for a lifetime.  Skiing the Birkie is one of the most important gifts that Jeff and I give ourselves as a couple.  And sometimes, being a mom means that you must maintain your own strength and your own happiness and your own marriage - so that when the kids are grown up - you still have an identity.
So, I found a swim family to take my daughter for the weekend.  My amazing in-laws took my son to his swim meet and activities.  And in the midst of an ironic snow storm, we drove the long road up to Hayward, WI. 
The magic didn't hit me immediately.  Friday was cold and gray.  As Jeff and I did our practice ski, I broke down in tears and just wanted to drive straight back home to the swim meet. 
After that release, I began to soak in the familiar rhythm and landmarks of Birkie weekend.  The festivities on Main Street.  Seeing good, good friends.  "Birkie Fever" ski art stamped in Rosie's Field by our friend from Canada, Ken.  Blackberry pie at the Norske Nook with lunch.  The beauty of the trail and the region.  The drive along the Namekagon River.  The Birkie songs and wax reports on WOJB.  The combined energy and lust for life of 9,400 people who are strong and so happy to ski.  It is Birkie Fever and it is contagious.  Thank God for that!
Saturday morning dawned crisp and sunny.  The canon went off, and I enjoyed every second of my 19th Birkie.  Every hill and every turn were like old friends.  The toughest parts of the 50 km trail were made easier by drumming, singing, musical, cheering, cowbell swinging spectators.  The sun was warming.  I felt strong and whole - a mom and a wife and an individual. 
The finish line was a party and we celebrated.  We both skied better than we had hoped.  One more Birkie in the books - our momentum was not lost. 
Dinner with friends.  Computer access that showed me that our kids were doing well and having fun.  Sunday Birchleggings breakfast with some of the most inspirational, determined athletes I'll ever meet.  A song about how important it is to treasure every experience.  Lessons to guide us for another year once again.
Then, the long road back home - to my busy, wonderful life - with a glow that will remain far into the warm months of the year.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Don't get caught up in the madness

My husband has always been an excellent runner.  He has been struggling this year with pain while running as he tried to train for the Boston Marathon.  Last Friday, x-rays revealed significant arthritis and bone malformation in his left hip.  He has cancelled his Boston plans and we now need to find him some new activities.  We were blindsided by this!  He had never had a hip injury.  No-one expected this. 

So...as I've always said, treasure every race and workout like it might be your last.  This snaps your priorities right back into place!  And remember that it is very important to train smartly.

A couple of interesting blogs/podcasts on training mistakes:
http://wpblogs.runningtimes.com/blogs/performancepodcasts/2012/01/podcast-smart-masters-training-with-pete-magill/?cm_mmc=RT-_-811468-_-02152012-_-MagillPodcast
Here - Pete Magill talks about the mistakes that he made that resulted in injuries and missing his goal race.  A good lesson for everyone.  He knew what was right and he still ended up making mistakes.

http://www.teamtbb.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=1352  Here, Coach Brett Sutton blogs frankly about the fallout from the hard training and epic racing in the women's Kona Ironman Championships last fall.

The bottom line here is that it is far too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a key workout (like the 20 miler, or the mile repeat session, or the course simulation ride or last weekend's race) is too important to miss.  I can't count how many times a friend or an athlete has gotten injured in pursuit of finishing that mythical 20 mile training run - because they believed that they could not run a marathon without it.  I even did this to myself - then had to skip the 2006 Chicago Marathon with an injury that took 6 months to heal.  Pete Magill says it best - there is no one workout that is worth jeopardizing your health and training.  If you feel a twinge or a cramp, time to stop and live to run again soon (or canoe or bike or swim). 

And Brett Sutton reveals that he has questioned Chrissie Wellington's hard training every day approach for the last 2 years.  He talks about the toll that too-hard training takes on an athlete.  Chrissie is the best - but could she have been better with less training?  She is now taking a break from training and racing - Brett seems to think that she is now done forever. 

It is too easy to question your training when you have friends who are doing twice as many hours as you are.  It is easy to get hung up on getting in that last 20 miler no matter what.  It is easy to think that if you don't train to exhaustion every single day - that you are not training enough.  DO NOT FALL INTO THESE TRAPS!!!! 

My goal is to keep my athlees in the game for a long, strong, healthy journey where they achieve their potential for many years to come.  I also want them to remain important to their family and friends and employers. It is all about training when you are ready to conquer a training stimulus and resting when you need to rest.  It is all about doing the minimum amount of training that will accomplish your goals.

Be smart.  Don't get caught up in the madness.  Treasure every run, bike, swim, paddle, ski, etc.!