blergggg

Parts of my body demanded that this week I taper.



The weather didn't help either.

Bike riding is still going well but running came to a dead halt because my neck dictated to my back that all movement was painful and should therefore be avoided, so I had to go back to just doing my simple physical therapy exercises until things (literally) straightened themselves out again. I did a short run tonight (why is that everyone in my neighborhood feels like they can heckle me while I'm running? I know my ass is 'daaaaayum'-worthy, but you have to work for same as I did, people. C'mon!) and felt okay. 1.5 miles only, but I tried to pick up my pace from the speed I normally go. It went okay.

Swimming just went to the wayside because, as Kate has noted, sometimes it's hard to put in the effort to get in the pool. Once I'm there I'm always happy. Sigh. I'll go tomorrow.

A taper's not so bad at this point, just a little one, right? The next few weeks I can ramp it up and start to really push, and just in time taper again a week or two before the tri to get rested. Only 44 more days...yikes!



I need some advice on what to wear. Seriously.

thoughts...on most everything

On swimming

It occurred to me the other day that swimming in the Hilton pool, despite its shortness, might actually be a beneficial place to train for a triathlon in a lake for the following reasons:

1. It's always a little murky.
2. The constant interruption of laps due to its short length may accurately recreate the short distances I'll go before being interrupted by another racing swimmer.
3. Avoiding small, splashing children is perhaps more difficult than avoiding other racers.

That said...my kingdom for a regular lap pool. Seriously.

On biking

Oh what a marvelous 10 days it has been! 30 Days of Biking is in full swing and I have managed to get on my bicycle every day. Some days with longer mileage (today, for instance, I only pedaled half-heartedly around the block in the midst of a ginormous wind storm), but all told, enough to make for some tired legs and a slow, satisfied contentment creeping all over my bike-loving soul. 20 days left and hopefully the forecast will hold (it's been tremendously beautiful, this April, so far).

On running

It's getting better. My new shoes are still fantastic. Twice now I've run halfway up Victory Memorial Parkway and back for a total of 3 miles each time, and been happy with the result. I've been tired and I have some unique new blisters, but my legs are feeling stronger and it's getting easier to convince myself to keep going. Tomorrow I'll attempt Calhoun again.

On racing

I think...I think I'm so excited. I can't wait for the atmosphere, the crowd, the burn, the competition, THE RACE. And most of all I can't wait to be done, and so proud of myself and of Kate for what we have accomplished. And I can't wait to find out- will I get addicted? Will I want to do this over and over again? I think I might.

Yes, I think I just might.

Stupid Setbacks

While it's been beautiful for the past week (aka exactly what I was waiting for), I failed to stretch before running last week and therefore have been faced with completely obnoxious pain in my left foot upon any attempt to run. It's getting better day by day, but I think the worst idea would be to run on it before its good and ready, lest I damage it further/again.

In other news, my bike helmet has lost its ability to be adjustable and unfortunately is stuck in the "slightly loose" position. I've got an idea for a fix on that one, too, but it's made me wary of biking (amidst traffic, with the sun beating down on me and a humid 70+ degree breeze cooling me as I zip along the inviting, freshly cleaned streets).

It wasn't a total waste of a week, though. I lifted a bit and re-realized the importance of stretching, with the help of my foot and my mother, who sent along a set of stretching exercises from a Bellin training course she got herself entangled with.

Best Thing So Far Today

True, it's only about 8:30. But thanks to my cohort Lauren, I already have a favorite thing today and it's triathlon related...sort of.

We all look silly when we run--we're focused on running after all, not looking normal. For as ridiculous as people look when they run, basset hounds look a hundred times awesomer. Buzzfeed.com posted a bunch of pictures of basset hounds' faces just flopping all over the place as they run. It's hilarious, and it's linked right here.