Back to Reality

Well...I survived IMCDA. Managed to finish with a 13 in front of my time (note that I failed to mention the number of minutes that came after the 13 but it rhymes with mifty mix).

Still...the entire experience was wonderful. Race report to come later but highlights of the trip include hanging out with Paula Newby Fraser and Greg Welch, meeting some great guys as part of the executive challenge and eating like an absolute pig after the race (if someone can explain why I craved hash browns and ketchup I'll buy you a beer).

I've now gone five days without working out and feel like I'm turning to goo. Plan is to start working out again starting tomorrow and begin "training" next week.

Weird start to a taper

So I'm a couple days into my taper and can't say that I'm pleased. In addition to a minor cold, I had an incredibly weird accident on Saturday. I was getting ready to go for a short ride and was looking for a spare helmet since my original had been sent with my bike on tri-bike transport.

I opened a closet in the garage and was shocked when the entire door came off the hinge and landed on my right foot with a thud. I can't describe how bizarre and unexpected that was! Still can't believe it. At a minimum, I gave myself a huge bruise on the top of my foot. At worst...may have a little break or fracture. The good news (if you can call it that) is that the damage is on the top of my foot. It's swollen but triathlon specific activity (i.e. pushing off) doesn't hurt except when my shoe touches the top of my foot.

The cold appears to be fairly minor so I'm hoping that it will clear during the next three to four days.

I guess that's a wrap

Finished my last hard weekend of training. We put in a seven hour ride in palm springs that had a little bit of everything on Saturday. I guess I should have anticipated wind when the route headed for an f'ing wind farm. I'm talking full blown fields of those giant white turbines. About 45 minutes into the ride we left town and headed north. The wind began picking up until it was (no kidding) about 35 miles per hour. When it was to our side we crept along waiting to get blown over (even had to walk our bikes over bridges out of fear of getting pitched over the side) then when we turned into it, we had moments where we were descending a 5% grade at less than eight miles per hour. Wild! The strangest part though was when we finally turned south and had the wind at our backs. For a period of time I was going about 35 miles per hour and it was absolutely still. I guess we were moving at the same speed as the wind and consequently, there was almost no sound whatsoever. Eventually we got out into the desert and the ride turned somewhat normal.

This morning, I got up and did a 14 mile run to close the book on my IMCDA training. While I feel fairly good, I do wish I had done more long swims during my training. And more long rides too. With more hills. Oh...and I wish I'd done a couple of big bricks. Probably should have thrown in a couple more long runs.

Oh well, nothing to do now but put in a quality taper and see what race day deals me.

Well...this is it

Last weekend for hard training. The great motivator known as "fear of death" has finally gone to work and I'm having no problem getting the training in now. Swam 3,700 meters last night (with great help from Kebby, Steph and Brit) and plan on getting in one last century ride this weekend. My knee will dictate how much I run on Sunday but after that, I guess the "hay is in the barn" so to speak.

Of course now I wish I'd been this motivated a couple of months ago but I suppose there is nothing I can do about it now. Thinking about heading out of town perhaps to Palm Springs to get some heat training in.