The Danskin Triathlon is on August 17 - barely ten days from now - which means I'll either have to find another race I can continue to train for or quit eating. Guilt-free food consumption has definitely been one of the benefits of training along with reliving my childhood (at least the good parts) through bikeriding. Biking is so much fun. Who'd have thought?
This past weekend's training included a hike on Mt. Rainier last Saturday to Grand Park with Patti, Chris, Laurie and Mark (Laurie's taking the photo). Laurie and I had hiked this particular trail last fall and both recalled it being a pretty long slog but with gorgeous views across an expansive mountain meadow with Mt. Rainier looming larger than life ahead. While the hike itself felt relatively easy this time (our training's paying off), the views were missing. We sat on the promontory to eat lunch and take in the scenery and watched as the clouds rolled in around us obscuring the mountain and reducing our visibility to the trail ahead. But we had a good time, think we smelled a bear, saw mountain bluebirds and lovely wildflowers and enjoyed a beer in the Nachez tavern when we were done. But what you really want to read about is the real training:
Brooke, Laurie and I met for a trial tri on Sunday; we swam 1/2 mile at American Lake then practiced our transitions by hopping on our bikes for a 10 mile ride to Steilacoom, in the middle of which Laurie and I ran a 1-mile loop while Brooke (with broken bone) stayed with the bikes. (She says her foot is fine for swimming and biking and was hoping the Doc would give her a boot reprieve so she could complete the whole triathlon on Aug 17. Well no such luck. She'll still compete but cannot run and says she'll walk the three miles in her boot. And she will, knowing Brooke.) We finished our trial run through in a little over 90 minutes which seems very reasonable and think we're as prepared as we can be at this point. We definitely have all the right gear - I purchased a tri-suit last weekend which you wear for all three activities, so you literally get out of the water and get right on your bike without changing clothes, then go straight from biking to running. It feels pretty comfortable too, and of course is every bit as fashionable as a wet suit. But the swimming in open water remains an exercise in endurance and not much fun at all.
I think the cost of this event is closing in on about $800 when you add up race entry fees, bike maintenance, clothing, wetsuits, etc. My commitment to triathlons just intensified. I'll have to keep competing to get my money's worth. I've been tracking training mileage too and since March have biked 291 miles, swum 8, and run 63 miles. (Anne wanted the training details.) For the past week following the Vashon bike ride, my training was: monday swim 1/2 mile, run 1.5 miles, 1 hour yoga; tuesday 1 hour yoga; wednesday 4 mile hill walking; thursday 1 hour yoga, 1/2 mile swim; friday - rest; saturday 8 mile hike; sunday 1/2 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, 1 mile run, 1 huge dinner.
Stay tuned. There's one more week to go.
5 comments:
Of course biking's fun! :-) I don't envy you the swimming and running though, that sounds pretty tough. Good to hear the training's going well and best of luck with the event! xxx
Well, if Brooke can't do the running, then it sounds like you all will have to find another one to train for! That should keep you striving for the competition and will also allow you to eat whatever you want!
I think Anne should start training with you. I gotta figure out a way to get her away from playing computer games all night!
Proud to be a member of Team Hell's Belles! Todd is working on a logo...If I keep training, will I have abs like Dora Torres?
Keep eating those cookies! :) You will do great on Saturday. Love, Sally
Post a Comment