A little switch - a new PB!
It's great when a relationship with a new client start off with a new PB - without a training plan exchanging hands yet! Lyndon Box's half Ironman performance over the weekend as an example of how a qualitative approach can spell the difference between victory and defeat, and why for some personalities it also means the difference between joy and tedium.
We can't lay credit to Lyndon's accomplishment, so the following serves only to illustrate a greater point:
Life is a qualitative experience!
If your goal is to create a greater sense of well-being through a multisport lifestyle, you may find that pursuing joy in sport is not just about having more fun, but will also lead to faster times out on the race course. Perhaps Lyndon's words express it best:
Hey Coach,
The race went very well. I am already converting to the "No Gizmo" approach. I did the race with nothing but a timex ironman watch. Had a PR for half IM of 4:28:50. The course was flat and despite some wind, it was pretty fast. So, I think I can improve on this a good bit, but at least I am ending the season on a positive note. I ended up getting 5th overall, which is not as exciting as beating some of my local training buddies!
On the bike I followed your advice and removed the cables and head unit for my SRM power meter and did not even use a speed sensor. That is the first time I have ever done that other than maybe a few sprint races where my battery was dead or something. I clearly see what you have been telling me. I was much more in tune with my body and the effort that I was putting into the pedals. I also had my head in the race a lot more. Since I wasnt busy staring at the screen, I was much more aware of other competitors, changes in conditions, etc. Same thing on the run. I clicked off mile splits, but mainly focused on running.
I ended up with splits of approximately 30 mins swim, 2:21 bike and 1:35ish(?) on the run.
Also, Lesleigh commented multiple times that this is the most relaxed she has seen me before a race in years. This carried over onto the course and it was a lot more fun than usual.
No comment on the irony of a cardiologist avoiding the use of a heart rate monitor -- the point here is not to discourage the use of technology for all athletes, but to encourage a higher level of awareness about your own tendencies. If you find yourself stressing out over training data or often taking on a quanitative approach to racing you might be leaving a lot on the table.
Try something next time you're lined up at the start. Race your race like an experiment -- see what happens. Be curious and you'll find yourself a whole lot lighter on your feet! the