Toccata in D minor
Most sound coaching philosophies start with a goal race and count backwards to the beginning of a training phase. If you periodize your training, you should have several plateaus along the way, with a final peak at the end of a year. My own seasonal system consisted of a summer base phase focusing on mileage with a goal (plateau) road race at the end of August; then a fall hill phase of alternating long and short hills each week, with cross-country nationals as the mid-year goal (NCAA’s in November or open US XC champs, which used to be in December); next came the winter speed training … which is where I radically differ from most coaches, who don’t introduce raw speed-works until the last three weeks of outdoors. The plateau goal at the end of the winter phase was indoor track nationals - usually a shorter race like the mile or 3k. The final phase employed race-specific intervals, mostly on the track, with lots and lots of surges thrown in to the work-outs to simulate racing. My bread and butter in the spring was “split intervals” (I can explain if anyone is interested). The ultimate goal was to run my best race of the year at outdoor nationals (a time and/or place goal I would have set on September 1st), to have all of my physical strength and mental energy peaking on the same day.
Knowing this, imagine what it would be like to have your goal race snatched away from you just one week before you were able to perform. This happened to my middle child, Rosie. One week before her “goal race” equivalent - her year-end piano recital - she fell off the monkey bars at school and nearly-broke her elbow. It was painful for her to use any part of that arm, especially for the powerful fortissimo chords in Toccata in D minor. Her piano teacher planned and then canceled one make-up recital after another, while my Rosie practiced and practiced and practiced some more her recital piece.
There comes a point where if you sharpen the blade too much it will blunt. I was worried that Rosie would never feel the satisfation of a completed cycle - of finishing something she started and of saying, “well done” when it was over. Soooo, I scheduled my own recital for Rosie in our livingroom. I invited the neighbors and a few close friends, printed out programs that the girls decorated, set up chairs all around the piano, and offered home-made lemon meringue pie & coffee afterward.
On Sunday, February 19th - a full 2 months after her scheduled, “official” recital - 8 year-old Rosie banged away with great passion and poise while I took my seat in the corner - admiring her work … and my own (she was going to have her day, dammit, and it was my job to make it happen. Thank goodness I learned all this from running). Dave recorded Rosie’s “goal race” for his mom and dad - who couldn’t make the recital - so I thought I’d share it with you.
Enjoy!
Rosie’s Recital Piece [3MB]
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Give Rosie a much deserved “high five” for me please!
I hope you don’t mind if I carry this quote with me… There comes a point where if you sharpen the blade too much it will blunt.
You and Rosie are very inspirational people. Your take on life’s situations, passions, and change in seasons (both literally and figuratively speaking) are so simplistically true that it’s easy to absorb the insight without feeling weak.
Just thought you might want to know that I’m happy to have “blog met” you because you remind me of life’s simple pleasures and it pushes me to work even harder towards my fitness goals. I was never allowed to be competitive as my parents would not allow me to join in sports when I was younger. My friends are not the sporting type and it’s so hard to find the mindset to excel athletically without any direct inspiration in real life. So, as cheesy as this may be, you are my sporting supplement that I plan to visually consume as often as this internet connection will let me.
Thank you.
Comment by chia — 2/24/2006 @ 12:30 pm
Thank you for posting this!
It is now in my iTunes library, in Shuffle mode; let Rosie know that her recital will be heard every so often in Scottsdale, AZ
Comment by Fat Charlie the Archangel — 2/24/2006 @ 2:44 pm
Yes, I don’t have to imagine. It happened to me last year. I was gearing towards the indoor 400M at the GBTC Invitational and the blizzard took away the meet. As hard as it is (was), it is (was) not the end of the world. I’ll not get that chance again but I don’t focus on it. There are other days, other races, and I am still running.
I agree with your plateau concept. I have used a seasonal approach. In school, the seasons are easily defined for you. Long out of school, it does take planning to create your seasons; peak race, target or milestone races along the way.
Congrats to Rosie!
Comment by Steve Sherlock — 2/25/2006 @ 8:18 am
Joan, Rosie, Dave:
We just listened to Rosie’s recital piece following the reading of Joan’s Blog. Thank you so much for allowing us to enjoy the performance by recording and posting this event. The effort by the whole family to organize this home production, record, and post the results is admirable. You guys sure stick together and support one another and it is so beautiful to observe. We will pass this link along to friends and family for their enjoyment also. Keep up your good works, all of you.
Mike & Doreen
Comment by Mike Mabe — 2/25/2006 @ 4:46 pm
Beatifully…
Weird enough for government work.
…
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