This was my first week of triathlon training! Even so, I had to take it a little easy this week because I had a 5K race on Saturday. Overall, I was pleased with what I accomplished. I must be more deliberate about stretching my knees after running and cycling, and I need to work on cool downs in the pool. I’ve also been told to practice transitioning from cycling to running, so for future cycling classes, I’m going to wrap up with a short run. Here are the week’s details:

Monday, June 2, 2008

• workout type: lap swim
• route: YMCA indoor pool
• feeling:
• time: 30′
• distance: 550 yards
• pace per mile: N/A
• additional notes: First workout with goggles and swim cap. Was able to see underwater, so I could swim in a straight line. Workout pattern: breast stroke lap, free stroke lap, side stroke lap, free stroke lap. Took a 30 second break at the end of each pool length (25 yards). Hope to eventually limit 30 second breaks to the end of each lap (50 yards). Heart continued to race until the end of my shower. Need to work on my cool downs.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

• workout type: cycling class
• route: YMCA cycling area
• feeling:
• time: 55′
• distance: 10.1 miles
• pace per mile: 5:27
• additional notes: Hadn’t attended the Tuesday night cycling class yet. Instructor Scarlett is filling in for regular instructor for about a month; her class was crazy hard, but of the Y’s cycling instructor’s I like her best. Trying to better my cycling technique: keeping heels down, pulling up with my quads, toes pointed slightly in, etc. At some point, I need to take my bike for a spin and actually ride outside. (Which means I must get a helmet, two new tires, and the back hatch of the Blazer fixed. Ugh.)

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

• workout type: easy run
• route: Forest Park subdivision
• feeling:
• time: 35′ ish
• distance: 3 miles
• pace per mile: 11:30ish
• additional notes: My times are pretty rough because my watch’s battery died. And I’m sort of holding out for a new Garmin. This was mostly a God-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-my-life run, so I wasn’t concentrating on time. Instead, I was thinking through career stuff. My legs were pretty tired from cycling the day before, so I took it pretty easy. Except for the last 200 yards or so; I’ll try to finish every run with a little kick.

Friday, June 6, 2008

• workout type: lap swim
• route: YMCA pool
• feeling:
• time: 30;
• distance: 900 yards
• pace per mile: N/A
• additional notes: Pool was busy this afternoon. Had to share my lane first with a guy who was obviously a swimmer and was not crazy about sharing a lane with a novice. Why do manly-swimmer types always have huge tattoos on their thighs, anyway? After he left, I had to share a lane with an older gentleman who wore these horrible Speedos: black with a coral-colored floral print. And swimming with him was like swimming with a walrus; every time I swam past him I was afraid I was going to get smacked in the face. Checked benchmarks one through three off my list (no. three was swimming 2 laps nonstop: one breast/side + one free).

Saturday, June 7, 2008

• workout type: 5K race
• route: Running of the Squirrels, Marionville, MO
• feeling:
• time: 33′22
• distance: 3.1 miles
• pace per mile: 10:46
• additional notes: I did not see one white squirrel; therefore, I think this race should be renamed the Running of the People. Knee tried to lock up in the third mile, so I had to walk on and off, which sucked because I really wanted to run the full race. I’ll have a full race recap with pictures in a day or two.