psychosomatic

Last week started the beginning of a new phase in my Ironman training. The last 3 months have been set to establish a solid physical endurance base. Lots of hours running and cycling at lower intensities to get the body used to lots of physical activity. Now that, that has been established (hopefully at least) I move into the build period where training get significantly more mentally challenging. During the base period I would go for 2 hour run but my heart rate would always stay in zone 1 or 2 a nice moderate pace. Now I go for a two hour run and I'm expected to get into zone 3 and 4 and hold it there for 2 intervals of 30-45 minutes. Quick side note there are 5 zones for heart rate training zone 5 is your maximum effort - all out, which is very difficult because of the mental focus required.

Our integrated beings are so interesting to me. Today I started off my run and after warming up for about 30 minutes and feeling like I was running at a good pace I looked down at my watch only to realize that my heart rate was barely in zone 2. Ah. Physically I didn't feel like I could push myself into zone 4 - it seemed unattainable. After a few more minutes I engaged my mind and forced my body to go harder and it did. It was still a bit of a strain but I managed to get through the first 30 minute interval of zone 3/4 running. A ten minute "break" of running at zone 2 and I was ready to go for the second interval. At this point my body was aching but I felt the energy inside to push this time. I focused on that. The drive and energy that I felt inside and tuned my body out and told myself "go with the flow of the drive" Off I went and I was running in zone 3/4 with ease as I engaged some core energy inside me and let that carry me. A strange sensation came over me as I thought about simply going with that flow inside me and letting it drive my body. Mysteriously, to me at least, my body responded and I was reminded once again of our mysterious integrated nature.