Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Sorry for the delays

Okay, I've been called out. Danielle asked today why I haven't been updating this site. The answer is simple; I've been very busy because of work and other issues. Every night is a late night right now, so I've not taken time to do it. However, I will double down on my resolve to make more frequent additions to this blog.

It is important to do so, if for no other reason than this is a better venue to more completely and properly express my thoughts. Sometimes we're too busy or running behind and I can't fully develop an idea with you. At least here you can read (or not) at your discretion. 

Things are going better at the moment in some ways, but the edge is ever present. Every time I get a little greedy and push you ladies, something (or someone) pops. It's the only way to get the most out of you of course, but it's a dangerous game. Establishing the proper ebb-and-flow relationship between hard/easy workouts is tricky. 

Do understand; we have critical workouts in a week. For us, that's the speed workout (often the race) and the hill workout. Hills give you strength. They also transition you to the high-quality speedwork we do later. Without the transition, the highest quality training cannot be achieved without undo risk of injury. 

Our racing mindset (individually) also has to develop. It takes courage to challenge yourself to the edge race after race. You know it hurts. You know it has to hurt more. You have to willingly accept the pain, embrace it, but also control it. Visualize every part of the race, feel the easy beginning turn to a building pressure that crescendoes to a pretty intense finish. By the end, you should feel like you've gone so hard you cannot imagine going any further. 

Day by day, run your workouts like opportunities to improve. There are girls all around you. No one does more than you (unless I assign it that way). No one goes faster. No one hurts more. No one is tougher. 

Push your teammates, but implore them to work harder. Try to beat them and lift them at the same time. It sounds silly, but it's the truth - you are always fighting to be number one while wishing your teammates individually run the best they can. To paraphrase JFK, "Pray not for an easier path, rather pray to be stronger women". 

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