Whether training for a 5-10K, a half or full marathon, sprint triathlon, or Ironman, sleep is one of those "overlooked" disciplines. Much like nutrition, getting the proper amount of sleep is vital to achieving the best results possible. Rest provides our bodies time to recover from the rigors of training.
A good night's sleep is so important, one bed maker developed a line called "The T-3" which is the (or at least was) the official sleep system of Ironman. While I'm unsure if one bed can meet the needs of every endurance athlete, we need to try to get the proper amount of sleep. For runners, at least, the general rule is one minute of ADDITIONAL sleep, each night, for every mile run during the week. So, if you usually get six hours of sleep and run 30 miles a week, you should try to get 6 1/2 hours sleep per night.
There, of course is the challenge. Ironman is tough. Getting the right amount of sleep can be nearly impossible. By the time kids are in bed, gear and work clothes are prepared for the next day, and a bit of housework or downtime is factored in, it's easy to find even six hours of sleep out of reach. Let's face it, 4:30 comes awful early.
In Iron Pol fashion, this week is proving to be more challenging than usual. One need only look at my race schedule to see why. I have a marathon on Sunday, and that means it's time to 1) get injured, 2) get sick, or 3) get lucky. Well, luck followed Elvis out of the building.
My daughter has been sick for quite some time, and she recently shared it with her brother. My son seems to have bounced back fairly quickly, and was better after just one day. Last night, Mrs. Pol fell victim and was down for the count. Though we thought our daughter was getting over everything, she was congested and had a hard time sleeping, last night.
So, I started the evening in a recliner trying to make her comfortable enough to get to sleep. I ended the night on the floor of her room trying to make her comfortable enough to get back to sleep. For a brief period between, I was able to make it to my own bed for a bit of rest.
That's why I question calling a bed The T-3. I'm guessing they weren't meaning that our time there should be the same as T-1 and T-2. Last night, that's about what it felt like.
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