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This was the end of a the second of three solid weeks of training leading up to 2 hard events I have in Gunnison Memorial Day weekend. Saturday I awoke to crappy weather and only had a pre-race tune-up workout on the schedule. Would have been a good day to skip the long ride. Instead I choose to think big-picture and put in some volume, just without the intensity. My friend Derek and I went on a 4 hour ride up to Masonville. Mid-way through the ride I was shedding my rain jacket and enjoying the sunshine on a weekend for a change.
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Sunday was the first triathlon of the season here in Boulder County. The weather, once again, was fantastic and it was nice to see a bunch of friends and get going on the triathlon thing I have trained all fall and winter for. I took a reasonably long warm-up since at .5 Mile Swim, 12.4 Mile Bike and 5K Run it is the shortest triathlon I would ever do.

The water temp turned out to be great but when the gun went off I just didn’t swim well (or straight). The usually kicks, swim-overs and mouth-fulls of water at the start but I don’t think I had it in my head that this swim was only going last 10 or so minutes and I took it out a little too easy. No excuses, I know I can swim better than this and I will explore a new wetsuit as I think mine has landed itself on the wrong side of snug vs. too tight. I shouldn’t feel fatigued all over my upper body after 13 minutes, right?

The bike ride went much better. I’m not sure I used more than 2 gears the entire ride and I made a point to spin and rest my legs when I could since I had no idea what running hard after biking hard would feel like. I have never practiced this before. In retrospect, I should have pushed harder, my legs felt fine running. The run course took place on a road I frequent that is, literally, directly behind my place of work and comprised of an out and back route. I love out-and-backs since it provides the opportunity to see everyone else. When I arrived at the turn around I saw 2 friends running hard not too far back, which provided some additional motivation.

I finished strong, nipping some other guy in a finishing sprint when he slacked on the last stretch (little did I know I was already 5 minutes ahead of him due to the wave starts. Still, he asked for it ). My run time was only a few seconds off my time for a stand alone 5K a couple weeks earlier. Later in the finishing area the Beej asked if I had checked out the results yet. I hadn’t and he implored that I do without telling me why: results. Damn, didn’t see that coming and I certainly won’t get used to it. I know better.

To reinforce that point, yesterday I came home from work and asked my 4 year old if she wanted to come to the mailbox with me, to which she replied, “Yes! and let’s race!… but YOU get a head start because YOU are SLOW"…
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Next up Sageburner 25K trail run in Gunnison Saturday and the Original Growler Sunday: 62 miles of sweet Rocky Mountain single track at 8,000′ .

I received this gift certificate for services that was donated to a raffle at the Zeal Optics 5K run for Jamie.

Previously the only “mental training” I have relied on is a whole lot of want-to and the little black rubber “Harden The F*ck Up” bracelet I wear each race day. Furthermore, I can’t say I have ever felt any “competitive pressure"; after all, this is my hobby not my job. But what do I have to lose? it is a long day at IMan.

I scheduled myself for an appointment this week. I’ll let you know how it goes…

Thanks Paul.

Last week my oldest (she’s 6) became part of the local USA Smimming Swim Club, the RedTails (The Original Skirt coached for them a few years back). Last night was their “Swimathon” fundraiser - the entire squad jammed into 5 lanes each trying to get to 5000 yards while seemingly their entire families counted on the pool deck. We were not made aware that this would replace her scheduled practice, so when we got there the coach asked if she wanted to get into the diving pool with the others who have been in the club for months and swim some laps to contribute to the fundraiser. She said “yes” and started at it while I got in the 1 open lane and started into my own swim. I popped up to check on her 5 minutes later, thinking she would be all done but she was still going. A few minutes later I checked again and she was still going: zig-zagging all over her lane, alternating backstroke and her crawl stroke. After 45 minutes her lesson was scheduled to be over and I was done so I went over to ask if she was ready to go. She choose to do 50 more yards with me watching, for a total of 700.

Damn. and it was her second practice of the day. Kids are resilient. I wish I had that in me as a kid. She loves it and I love that she loves it. Hopefully she will choose to stick with it for a looong time.

As for me, swimming in the last open lane I learned that I swim about as quick as a 14 year old club swimmer - and I don’t mean Amanda Beard circa Atlanta Olympics (well before this). They make it look so easy.
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Bought me a free minute from motorboat-man in the form of this wheelbuilder.com cover for my 808s. Seems like a most brilliant idea to me, now I have 2 wheels in 1…