Sunday 01/03/10

Today was a three sport challenge. I was up at just after 7:00 am, thankful that I could sleep in a bit since I didn't have to travel far for the training. The training was 5 minutes away at the Dougherty Valley High School. I like that kind of commute.

As I am getting ready and pulling my stuff together, I am thinking to myself about the progression I have made as an endurance athlete(I use the term loosely). Not about the progress I have made, but the amount of crap that I now must carry. When I started running 6 years ago, it was grab your running shoes and go. Then 2 years ago, I decided to try biking. I dropped my running shoes but added bike, bike shoes, helmet, and a variety of clothes all depending on the weather. Now I am still holding all my bike supplies, picked up my running shoes and lets throw in the swimming cap, googles, and soon enough, a wet suit. Triathletes have to be in great shape, just to carry all their crap.

I get to the pool by 7:45 am and we are swimming by 8:00. I feel pretty good today. Working out with the group 2s. We start with drills which go fine. We do a ladder progressing in length and increasing in speed. All goes well. We then do 2 100s working on something specific the coaches give each of us. My focus is breathing every 3 strokes. CRAP!!!! This is what was giving me the drowning sensation before, I couldn't relax. Double CRAP!!!! I make it through it, but I felt exhausted after 200 yds. I felt better after doing the 1050 yds ladder. Overall the swim goes well and I am excited by the improvement that has occurred here.

Off to the bike for a quick 20 miler. We are doing Collier Canyon, a ride that I am very familiar with. I ride off with the lead group and away we go. I get about 5 miles in and I realize that I am breathing too hard and I need to back off a bit. I do just that and let the speed demons race onward ahead. I struggle up the first part of the canyon mostly because it is straight into a head wind. I get to the top of the first part and now I seem to get into a groove. I take an extra loop around Collier's Canyon which adds on an extra 3.5 miles. I know the extra distance won't hurt. I ride well through the second loop and back home.

Now its time to run. We don't run a long distance, but it sure seemed like it. 2.5 miles never felt so long. My feet felt like bricks. Heavy to pick up and stiff and inflexible when they came down. I made it through but it wasn't pretty.

We ended the day with a core workout. OUCH!!!!

Overall, I felt great afterward.
Tired? Yes
Sore? I am sure I will be tomorrow
Excited? Absolutely

Today was our first recommittment.
I guess I am going to do the damn thing.....