For me, as summer draws to an end, I start thinking about what I am going to do over the winter. This year, it is particularly on my mind, since summer most decidedly did not go as planned. Two of my big races got cancelled due to wildfires, and another I DNF'd.
I started Crossfit last winter and loved it, but quit going after a few weeks, because I felt like between that and running, I was tired all the time. I didn't realize this at the time, but my nutrition was also suffering, and in hindsight I am sure that contributed to being tired all the time. Also, I do not enjoy getting up early AT ALL. But there is a reason I started getting up early to go to Crossfit, and that is because it is the only time in my day I can fit it in, and I love the workouts, and the results.
I originally started running because I wanted to keep the weight off. I still run for that reason, but also because I have fallen in love with running. I don't love running on the treadmill so much, but I am willing to do it because it keeps me in shape over the winter. If I slacked off all winter long, starting up again in the spring would be so much harder. Running is a depreciable skill.
For a few years now, though, I have wanted to work on building body strength and muscle in places other than my legs. I have flirted with weight lifting, but doing the same routines over and over is super boring after just a few weeks. That's why I tried, and enjoyed, Crossfit. It is always a different workout, but over time, strengthens your entire body.
I said last winter that I wanted to focus on improving both my running and my overall strength, and wound up doing neither. I gained a bit of weight, which I have managed to lose again (I have a great nutrition plan when I follow it), slacked off on running, and only did the strength workouts for a couple of months. So I shouldn't have been surprised when this summer, I was plagued with one overuse injury after another, and went into my races undertrained. Then, after my last race, a marathon that I DNF'd at mile 19.5, partly because of a nagging injury, and partly because I just didn't feel like running anymore, I decided that for the rest of the summer, instead of stressing about a training plan that I wasn't following that well anyway, I was just going to run for fun and when, how far, and at what whatever pace I felt like.
I know I can perform better than I did this summer. I really want to see what I am capable of at peak performance. But I need to build up to that. So, here is my plan.
1. Continue to run every day. But plan short days where I really only run 1 easy mile.
2. For the first half of the winter, October through December, focus on speed.
3. For the second half of the winter, January through March/April, focus on building back up to be ready for long, technical summer running.
4. Crossfit. I really want to get back into it. And I think if I do it in a way that is smart, and for the first few months, keep most of my runs on the short side (ie no more than 4 or 5 miles), I should be better able to manage it without wearing myself out.
5. NUTRITION. I have been really focusing on improving my overall nutrition lately, and I want to continue that trend. I have found that the quality of the food I eat really plays a part in how I feel and how well I perform, and to maximize performance, I have to maximize nutrition.
6. Body composition: right now, although I am at a healthy weight, my body fat percentage is higher than I would like. Over the winter, I want to lean out, and build muscle, and bring that percentage closer to 22% or so, which I think would be ideal for performance, with my body type. I think if I can meet the rest of my goals, this one will fall into place.
In a couple of days, I am leaving for Utah, and will be gone for a week and a half. The day after I get back, I leave for Bethel for 5 days. So it won't be until mid September that I really have a chance to start Crossfit up again, but that is the plan. I think I'm going to see if they will let me take the starter lessons again so I remember the basic lifts, and then go from there. It should be fun!!
So, there you have it. I am going to try to keep track of how it is going, and how well I am sticking to the plan, If I don't track it or measure it, I will be less likely to follow through. I am not looking forward to winter, but at least I have a plan.
