*Sigh* Why can't running be as easy as swimming?

[KSH]

I was shocked... amazed even... I haven't been in the pool since about May. I even took about a month or so off of swimming. I have done some open water swimming in the past month, but about 4 sessions.

And, even though I was a competitive swimmer... it always takes me a few weeks to work my yardage/endurance back up.

So, I go to the pool and do 2000 yards. I focused on gliding with each stroke and not getting my heart rate up too high (I do this by breathing every 4 strokes).

It was so easy and I was doing 100's in around 1:30.

WHY can't RUNNING be that EASY for me? WHY???



Even though it's great to swim so easily, it doesn't mean a thing in tri's. What's important is a high mph average on the bike and running fast miles.

Yes, I'm whining. Thanks for listening. I know I will run again... someday. My body needs more than 5 months to get back up to speed... that is all.

[colby]

I feel you, KSH. I have swam twice in the last year, maybe even more like two years: once the week before my tri, and once for the actual event. Just doing breastroke with some mixed freestyle and I can finish 1/2 mile in a fairly respectable 20 minutes, and keep going for much longer distances. I was a competitive swimmer when I was younger, and while I was by no means winning races with record times, I did learn technique and sometimes swam anchor on relay teams.

But running? I feel like such a gimp. This week I am majorly down on running, I've been doing yoga (some more strength conditioning, some more aerobic) and biking instead. I am mentally committed to ramping up for a marathon at the very end of November, even if I have to walk, but I feel so slow... I am hoping the endurance training and the cooling weather for fall/winter helps me get back up on running, and I can always bike until it gets too wet/snowy, or hit the pool/gym.

Hang in there. You'll make it.

[Lise]

It's funny, KSH, when I read the title of your post, I thought, "If running were as easy as swimming is for me, I'd never finish a triathlon!" For some reason, swimming is hardest for me. I know it's the shortest part of any tri. For someone properly trained, it is easy. For me, it feels like the difficult task I have to get through in order to bike. Running's not easy for me, but I can do it.

I pictured myself running like I swim--zig zagging all over, sometimes running, sometimes hopping in place, sometimes skipping--it would be entertaining, I grant you that!

Enjoy your swimming grace, and know that run will come to you, too. L.

[Brina]

I hear you. Swimming just feels so natural. I should have gills.

[betagirl]

I think the same thing about swimming and cycling I used to be a competitive swimmer also, and am just getting into my swim training. But dang, compared to my bike it's killing me.

The running will come to you. Keep it up. I don't even run

[kaybee]

Oh gosh! I'm just the opposite -- swimming is torture for me, while running is pure pleasure (except when it's 79 degrees and 100% humidity at 5:30 a.m., like it was today). Gotta love summertime in the south.

As Lise said, enjoy your ability to swim well -- some of us really envy that ability. Good luck with the running -- it WILL get better.

KB

[Bella]

The elite athletes who led during the swim and bike portion of last weekend's Chicago Triathlon are asking the same question.

Both male and female leaders that cranked in the water and led through the bike lost it all on the run. I read one commentary that said the #2 female looked "like a survivor of a bad Ironman experience".

For you and me and the rest of the readers, we get aggravated at our dip in ability when we have to run (I get crippled by runners trots) but for these folks, they are out thousands and thousands of dollars. To have such problems as an elite....

[KSH]

I am mentally committed to ramping up for a marathon at the very end of November, even if I have to walk, but I feel so slow... I

So, have you started training for the marathon yet?

It's important that you ramp your miles up slowly.

I tried training for a 1/2 marathon too quickly... going from 5-7 miles a week to 10-15 miles a week. That, coupled with running shoes not made for my stride... is what started all of my running pain 1 year ago.

[KSH]

As Lise said, enjoy your ability to swim well -- some of us really envy that ability. Good luck with the running -- it WILL get better.

I envy every person who can actually run more than 200 yards at a time.

Gosh, I see people who look pretty unfit (not just triathletes, generally speaking when I see people running)... and they can run.

And it has to be hard on their joints... but they are doing it... WHY can't I? WHY? It just seems so unfair that my body won't let me run.

I know you can't judge an athlete by his/her cover... but gosh... it's really frustrating that others can run and I can't.

[luv2ride94]

I agree, I'm a swimmer so I train about 6,000 yard a day so that parts easy and the bikings no problem but man runnings HARD for me!! I jsut can't seem to get a pace going I think. I'm looking for my first triathlon to do but the only ones i have found close so far don't let you do the long course till your 13 atleast. Anyways hopefully by the time I find one the running will be getting easier.

[KSH]

I agree, I'm a swimmer so I train about 6,000 yard a day so that parts easy and the bikings no problem but man runnings HARD for me!! I jsut can't seem to get a pace going I think. I'm looking for my first triathlon to do but the only ones i have found close so far don't let you do the long course till your 13 atleast. Anyways hopefully by the time I find one the running will be getting easier.

I honestly believe that when someone is a swimmer... it's very hard for them to start running. I would love to do a survey and see how many competitive swimmers end up FAST (6-7 minute mile) runners and how long it took them to get to that pace.

I could NEVER run when I was a compeitive swimmer. If I tried, it was like a 500 lb person trying to run. It was so sad.

Over the years I got better... and then picked up some odd injuries that have had me down for a year.

But, I have NEVER been a great runner, and I think my body is just use to low impact sports. It's not use to being abused. My body likes to ride and swim...but hates to run. HATES IT.

Oh well, what can ya do? Right?

I hope you can find a course that you can compete on! It's always great seeing someone under the age of 18 out there doing it!

[colby]

So, have you started training for the marathon yet?

It's important that you ramp your miles up slowly.

I tried training for a 1/2 marathon too quickly... going from 5-7 miles a week to 10-15 miles a week. That, coupled with running shoes not made for my stride... is what started all of my running pain 1 year ago.

Yeah, I have. The base I started from is 20-25 miles a week (4-5 days x 4-5 miles) with biking and other stuff in there as well, thanks to the sprint at the end of August. That means some of my long run days were brick days instead, unfortunately.

I am following this: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/130.shtml combined with input from the non-runner's marathon trainer book and am at week 9 this week. The first-timer "I just want to finish!" modifications top out at 20 miles, and that's my plan: get a marathon time I can improve on.

I admit that I have not signed up yet... which makes me feel guilty, and probably mentally not as committed as I should. For some reason, I have reluctance to officially commit to something this big this far ahead of time, even if I am training for it. I guess it always gives me that "I'm not good enough" out, and I need to get rid of that attitude if I'm going to make it.

[KSH]

Yeah, I have. The base I started from is 20-25 miles a week (4-5 days x 4-5 miles) with biking and other stuff in there as well, thanks to the sprint at the end of August. That means some of my long run days were brick days instead, unfortunately.

I am following this: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/130.shtml combined with input from the non-runner's marathon trainer book and am at week 9 this week. The first-timer "I just want to finish!" modifications top out at 20 miles, and that's my plan: get a marathon time I can improve on.

I admit that I have not signed up yet... which makes me feel guilty, and probably mentally not as committed as I should. For some reason, I have reluctance to officially commit to something this big this far ahead of time, even if I am training for it. I guess it always gives me that "I'm not good enough" out, and I need to get rid of that attitude if I'm going to make it.

That's a great base! You are positioned for SUCCESS!!!!

You will certainly finish the marathon.

Now, GO SIGN UP! I know what you mean though, as long as your money is NOT down, you can still "pull out" of doing it, if you feel like you can't do it. But, it also let's you give into your fears and self-doubt.

So, just go sign up. You are training for it... and you can do it. You WILL do it!

[Lise]

I agree: Sign Up Now! It's a horse of a different color when you're committed to doing the race. Plus, you get emails or mailings, when you go to the website, you know you're "in", not just lurking on the edges...and nothing got me out the door early in the morning last summer like knowing I had a marathon coming up. Do it! Where's the race?

[colby]

KSH said:

That's a great base! You are positioned for SUCCESS!!!!

You will certainly finish the marathon.

Now, GO SIGN UP! I know what you mean though, as long as your money is NOT down, you can still "pull out" of doing it, if you feel like you can't do it. But, it also let's you give into your fears and self-doubt.

So, just go sign up. You are training for it... and you can do it. You WILL do it!

Lise also chimed in:

agree: Sign Up Now! It's a horse of a different color when you're committed to doing the race. Plus, you get emails or mailings, when you go to the website, you know you're "in", not just lurking on the edges...and nothing got me out the door early in the morning last summer like knowing I had a marathon coming up. Do it! Where's the race?

Wow, between the two of you, you make a great cheering squad!! I'll have to imagine you guys between my ears when I'm at mile 22 It's nice to hear it from people who have been there (if not a marathon, then SOMETHING else) and not have to keep beating on my husband about it.

Instead of just checking the plan every day in half-committed state, I put it down in the computer today with dates and everything, and will be putting it on paper tomorrow so I can cross the days off. One more step to mental commitment! I plan on signing up tomorrow, too, which is step 2 of mental commitment. (Thanks to you guys!) I left the website front and center on my (other) PC. Not stalling, it's just more convenient to do it there, this PC is a PITA.

The marathon is the Seattle Marathon: http://www.seattlemarathon.org -- and is on November 26th, the weekend of Thanksgiving. That means I get Thursday and Friday off for free, and will just have to take Monday off to travel back home. Needless to say from the name, it's in Seattle, which is my "true" hometown, and where my in-laws, some of my parents' family, and a couple of my siblings live. I chose the Seattle Marathon because of the timing, and because it's big -- I did a half marathon at the end of May and it was small, so I am interested in what "big" looks like

I'm hoping marathon training will bring me right into ski season, and I'll also go into off-season base building (and weight loss, I hope) for next year.