I think therefore I'm right
I was watching the telly news last night, when an item about the repeal of s59 came on - you know, the so-called anti-smacking law.
An independent panel, including a spokesman who had initially opposed the repeal, has concluded that the fears of those opposed had not come to pass – "good" parents were not falling foul of this law. It is working fine.
However, a group opposed to the law change is still unhappy, despite this review and continues to demand change.
I did a little muttering about my own views on this, but given my rather one-track mind, it started me thinking about the difference between knowing what training works for you and blindly sticking to something despite contrary evidence.
Just because something doesn’t feel right doesn’t mean it won’t work – tapering is a prime example. It seems counter-intuitive to start doing a whole lot less before a race – and yet, if I want to peak, that’s exactly what I should be doing.
Not that I’m suggesting we should all start doing the opposite of what makes sense. However, I’m still trying to wrap my head around some of the stuff my coach has me doing in my new programme. The "rest" week over Christmas sends me into a mild panic – it’s not that long from Ironman.
However, since he is the expert, I shall trust him. Of course, I could argue that experts once thought the world was flat and bleeding sick people facilitated healing. But whatever later research will show, right now the coach knows much more than I do about training.
The whole rest issue is a contentious one. A lot of people ignore the recommendation of taking a rest day once a week, to give your body time to recover. I wonder if that’s the point where training enthusiasm tips over the edge into an obsession – because it can become like an eating disorder.
Speaking of eating, I’ve also decided to take myself along to a nutritionist. I know what food works for me during training – it’s the meals around it that need some work. I’ve actually put on weight since I increased my training, which is not what I want to do.
I must confess the whole blindly sticking to what you think rather than what the evidence suggests reminded me of the cycling/motorist debate too. But I shall confine myself to just one comment on that subject.
When I took up training, I found myself doing a lot of things I'd previously thought ridiculous. Spending vast amount of money on running shoes, falling off my bike mastering clip-in shoe/pedals combinations, and the biggest one - actually wearing Lycra in public without shame.
What does everyone else think? No, not whether I should feel shame about wearing Lycra, although feel free to comment on that if you wish, but I was more thinking the whole I-know-I'm-right mindset.
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I have slowed down to speed up and eaten more to weigh less. Mental! But I swear by it!
I'm off to a nutritionist this week as well! I really want get a bit more serious about training next year and achieve some goals I didn't get anywhere near doing this year. Like doing a 1/2 marathon (that's enough for this old girl), the whole of Taupo (love the bike more than running) and lots of other events. And lose a bit more weight to make the most out of training (easier to get up them hills - and of course the vanity side of it as well :-) - hey, there's got to be some benefits beside just "feeling" good and healthy!
A few points. Firstly, yes I take one day a week (at least) off. From running anyway. Instead I do stretching/core strengthening work to a greater degree than on a running day and 20min on my wobbleboard to keep those medial and lateral muscles in trim. It puts much less stress on my body and no impact exercise.
Secondly, beware of 'nutritionists', as here in the UK the term is not protected. I could go out tomorrow and call myself a nutritionist and even use my doctorate in my title so long as I make it clear I am not a medical practitioner. Instead what you want for evidence based nutritional advice is a dietitian. Nutritionist talk a whole pile of bollocks, if they start talking about toxins, walk away. If they start talking about antioxidants, walk away. If they tell you to drink 8 (glasses, pints, whatevers) of water every day, walk away. There is no evidence to support any of these. If they tell you that you have a food intolerance or allergy without a proper test*, walk away.
*For intolerances you must do an exclusion diet, which is not trivial and will not support you during and exercise program. I have been there done that. It is the only sure fire way to demonstrate an intolerance. Food 'allergies' are widely confused with intolerances, unless your throat begins to constrict, you have breathing difficulty, a rash appears or you go into full blown anaphylactic shock after eating something you do NOT have an allergy.
Oh and if the 'nutritionist' talks other than disparagingly about 'superfoods', 'colour foods' or if they say you need 'supplements' or vitamins and minerals (which doubtless they will sell you) then run away. If a nutritionist is not able to design a diet for you that is not giving you all your vitamin and mineral needs then they have just demonstrated that they know nothing about nutrition and diet.
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I have learnt a great deal this past 6 months or so from having a coach. Things i probably knew really: like being consistent and building up distances in training gradually. But having it written down and having to account for what I have,or haven't, done has made a big difference. I wish i had used a coach a long time ago. One thing I have noticed is that there is a lot of information available and lots of it is conflicting. Its good to have one person who you can refer to and just one plan to follow rather than bits and pieces of several different plans. Good luck with the nutritionist Ann. That could be really helpful. I did a weekly food diary for my coach recently and her advice was to substitute nuts and yoghurt for the many cookies I consumed in that week. Sigh.