Originally Posted by
datlas
Get a book on training. The ones by Chris Carmichael are popular. Invest in a Heart Rate Monitor or maybe even a power meter.
You can get better and faster, but you will have to be willing to suffer more. Whether that is "worth it" is a philosophical decision based on your goals and values.
Well, that is a pivotal question, for sure. Why am I even doing this, and why do I want to get faster? It's not like I'm getting paid by the mile and mph...though I wish that were the case! You hit the nail on the head. I don't know exactly why...because I think I can...the thrill of personal achievement, pride, and the rest of the human emotions that motivate behavior. :-)