2-16-08 Bike/Run

Bike 9.84 mi @54:10 avg speed = 10.9mph
Run 4.01 mi @38:53 avg speed = 6.2 mph

The best laid plans of mice and men....

My official scheduled training starts next Tuesday, so I'm still kind of in free fall, so to speak. I had planned on biking 9.5 miles (from the house to the Sportsplex), then swimming 20 or 25 laps (with flip turns), then biking back home - 19 total bike miles. But...

I got up planning on eating a couple of slices of peanut buttered toast, but no bread in the house. So I ate about anything I thought would fuel,what was supposed to be, a long session: an apple, some peanut butter, a glass of milk, a little OJ. I hit the road, and took it slow and easy as much as I could (still seeing a long session ahead of myself). Traffic was impolite in places, but nothing too scary. However, right about mile 7, I passed a yard with 2 Rottweillers in the yard. The dogs didn't see me until I was already past the yard, and they barked a few times, but seemed uninterested in giving chase - lucky for me. My mind started running through how I should handle this on the ride back. I knew I'd be passing my church's survival expert, so I planned on calling him to borrow a can of mace/pepper spray for the return trip. Then I reasoned that I could stop at the hardware store on the way back and see if they had some repellent. I decided to call Mr. Survival when I got to the gym, if he wasn't home, then I'd stop at the hardware store on the way back. If they couldn't help me, I'd call Steph to come pick me up.

When I got to the gym, I shed all my equipment and parked my bike. I checked in headed for the pool - closed. It was 10 am, this is when I learned that the pool opens at 1pm on Saturday. I called Steph and asked for a rescue. I decided to just do upper body work/push ups/pull ups/sit ups/etc. Then I'd just cancel the 2nd ride. Steph still hadn't run when I called her, and wanted to know if I felt like running with her after she got done with some commitments at the house - I agreed and asked her to bring my running shoes with her.

When she got to the gym, I'd already done my weight room work, had snack, and stretched out on a brick wall and was almost asleep. I love sunny days. We took to the roads and did another 4 miles. The last mile was REALLY fun for me - I hit my stride and just kept speeding up. We typically run @ 6mph (10 min/mile), but towards the end, I checked the GPS and I was doing 9 mph and climbing. I was worn pretty thin when we finished, but I recovered pretty quickly.

Even though I didn't get to do the workout I planned on doing, it was still a good workout.

2-15-08 Bike/Run

Today was bike and run day. I biked 6 miles at the dam, then put on my running shoes and did another 2.7 miles. It's still going to take some getting used to transitioning from one mode to another. I've still got some adjusting to do, but that's what training is for.


Tomorrow is a LONG ride and swim. I'm going to bike to the sportsplex and swim when I get there, then bike back - - slowly. It's going to be a long, long day - - hope I'm not pushing too far. Next week, I start scheduled tri training, and I start measuring my workouts on the clock instead of the odometer.

2-14-08 Thursday

Another hard workout (double again). Today was swim/run. I swam 20 laps with flip turns (really suck at those), then ran 2.5 miles, then did push ups, sit ups, dips, pull ups, stretching.

I've been working on a schedule for my workouts (I've been flying on the seat of my pants since I hurt my knee in October). I think I've settled on a base triathlon workout schedule, but I need to tweak it a bit. I also need some guidelines so I don't overtrain and hurt myself. I'm going to try and keep my running mileage down to no more than 4 miles per run (usually 2 or 3). I also think I'm going to try working in a morning weight session once a week - I want to get to a 6 day a week schedule - resting on Sundays. Cycling time is going to be 30 mins to an hour in training, and swimming, I'll work up to 30 laps or more with turns.

I'll be doing doubles most of the time - swimming and running, or swimming and biking, or biking and running. This should begin to acclimate my body to the transitions. I may try to do an all three workout (about 60% race distance) on a Saturday about a month before the race.

2-12-08 Tuesday

Ran at the dam with Steph. We did a little bit over 4 miles, but my knee gave me some trouble. It hurt pretty badly between about 1 mile and 2 miles. We stopped for few minutes for a restroom break and to do some push ups and pull ups. When we started back, my knee felt better and didn't give much trouble for the rest of the run. I probably should have iced it better after the peddle workout on Monday. I did ice it down after the run.

2-11-08 Monday

Wow! Um, revelation day!

The Tri is June 7th - I've started marking days on my calendar, and my goal clock is ticking (need to update the java counter on this blog). I've been looking at some training programs and most of them target 12 to 16 weeks of dedicated training, so I'm just base building for the time being until I can settle on a plan, and begin it at the correct time.

Today, I pushed myself a little with some unexpected results. I was supposed to swim tonight. I've got new goggle to test, and I'd done some research on doing flip turns at the end of the lap (gonna have to learn that since the tri-swim is at a lap pool). I decided that I would back down on the laps today since I was going to practice flips and I knew it would be more demanding on my breathing/cardio and mental focus - - I was right.

I decided on 20 laps with flip turns all the way through, then I'd get on a stationary bike and pedal for 6 miles. I REALLY need to work on the flip-turns. Most of them were almost comical. Swim, swim, swim, gulp air, nosedive/flip, kick for wall , flail for a sec until I get my stroke back....repeat. I did the 20 laps, and only came close to drowning once or twice (guess I'll need to get some nose plugs after all - I also may go for some ear plugs, unrelated to flip turns). The flip turns really took it out of me, but I did it. I hopped out of the pool and changed clothes and got on the bike, set it for level 8 of 20, and set it for a varied workout. After about 3 or 4 miles, my legs were feeling it. I've not been on my bike since this summer - I'd (foolishly) assumed that the bike portion (even at 20K) would be the easy portion of the event. I made the 6 miles in just under 20 minutes ( so I can estimate race time at about 40 mins). After the ride, I did push ups and sit ups and pull ups. I was spent after the workout - - spent in a way I haven't felt since high school.


Here's the thing (and I know I'm still a long way off from the event, but...) - FEAR. I spent a long time sitting in the locker room trying to figure out what I was feeling (besides tired)...it was doubt and fear. I've decided I WILL do this race (not just WANT to, WILL do - - I read a great article on the difference this weekend). The struggle that happened today scared me - it was the first time I'd considered if I was in over my head. I decided that I'm not, I just need to dedicate my training. All the same, it was a sobering experience.

I am training for a triathlon. I will succeed, and I will be a triathlete when I finish. The Ride, the Stride, and the Tide.

//Wonder if I should commision a new tattoo to commemorate it?//