12:34

Sunday was supposed to be a day spent on the mountain bike and in the pool, but it didn’t quite work out that way. I called to make sure the trails were open, got the OK, and then headed out the door. I arrived to find the trails closed because a body had been discovered. It was a bummer of a car trip back home, especially since the sun was shining for the second day in a row. I decided to ride to the pool and do an 800m swim for time. I was loose from the ride over to the pool and after a light warm-up got down to it. I never pushed too hard, but tried to maintain a comfortable pace and not take advantage of the flip turns. A time of 12:34, with over two months of training still to go before my first race, is looking good. When the weather warms up I’d love to get out for an open water trial and see how my time compares. This week I move into my aerobic stage and in looking at the week’s workouts it is going to be a jump in intensity.

Getting in the groove

Tuesday
After returning from the bay area Monday night, it was right back to training on Tuesday. I hit the weights during lunch on Tuesday, and it felt good to be back in the gym after a long weekend of rest and relaxation. The workout was straightforward, a warm up on the elliptical machine and then some intense chest/back work. While my lifting program hasn’t changed (for now) since I started my formal tri training this week, I have been trying to incorporate as much functional strength training into my routine as possible. This means lots of pushups, dips, and different styles of pull-ups. Interesting article in Outside that turned me on to the Monkey Bar Gym philosophy, which has been huge. I can tell it is paying off, but functional strength exercises are much more humbling than free weights.
Wednesday
I was up early and in the pool before sunrise. The water was cold, the air was cold, and it took me a while to get warmed up, especially since I was trying to keep my hr down. Swimming comes so easily that I’m able to really enjoy my workouts, even evaluating my stroke and body position is fun. I was tough pressed to find my own lane this morning, I’m guessing the cold weather is driving everyone indoors. A quick costume change and it was off to work. I got in a quick workout after “Unity Day” during lunch, mainly just a warm-up with stretching and pull-ups for good measure. I’m looking forward to Thursday as I get to coach and workout with the Vanderbilt Ultimate team. I always work harder when I’m coaching.