Boulder Peak Race Rehearsal (Rehearsal)

Boulder Peak Race Rehearsal - Olympic Distance

Morning Air Temp: 56

The Olympic Distance Triathlon is exactly double the distances of the Sprint Distance Triathlon.

* Swim is 1500M, 100M shy of one mile (1600M)
* Bike is 42K or 26 miles
* Run is 10K or 6.2 miles

Nutrition becomes paramount in race efforts greater than two hours, and this particular race will definitely take longer than two hours for me to complete.

This year I am exploring a Hammer Product used to fuel for Endurance Events called Perpetuem. This type of sustainable fuel is used when *more* than an electrolyte replenishment (ie. Gaterade, Cytomax, etc) is needed. Perpetuem contains complex carbohydrates, soy protein, healthy fats, and key auxiliary nutrients such as sodium phosphate that support those athletes who will need to replenish their fuel after depleting their initial intake. While others use Gels and Gu's, which give a burst of energy followed by the "Sugar crash", athletes like myself who plan to be on the race course for greater than four hours will need the support of products like Perpetuem which offers a consistent, reliable, "level" energy that will hopefully allow me to swim, bike and run without cramping and fatigue.

The product comes in a power form which is portioned based on one's weight and length of activity time. My weight is > 200lbs... and I need at least 3 hours of continued fuel after I burn off my initial intake (ie. After the first 1.5 - 2 hours of my race). So about mid way the bike I will need to begin to "eat".

Another piece that I am exploring this race is the use of an aero hydration system for my new Tri Bike. Last race I rode without any hydration, which was actually a mistake... but this race it is significantly more important for me to have a way to fuel/hydrate during the ride, so the hydration system is one solution to the problem. -- The aero hydration fits between my aero bars and a long straw extends upward for me to fuel while in an aero position. This will be a new component to my race rehearsal.

I also thought I might need to carry some Perpetuem for the run, which requires yet another handy item called a "Fuel Belt". The Fuel Belt has several tiny elastic "pockets" that can carry an 8 oz bottle. The whole belt fits snugly around my waist. The bottles hold the Orange tasting Perpetuem mixture. I plan to sip during my run leg when the sun is hot and my energy is waning.

In the past, when I ran marathons and completed my first Half Ironman, the nutrition piece was always something that I got right. I remember hearing about my team mates being rushed to the hospital for consuming more than their stomach's could digest... others needed to receive aid for dehydration or severe leg cramps. One good thing about my slower pace is that it has allowed me to experience "Bonking", which is completely depleting one's body of all energy stores, so I have also had the privilege of practicing my nutrition and working through what my body might need in terms of energy stores. In the past I have eaten baked potato pieces and/or tiny "Chiclet" size pieces of Power Bars to maintain fuel while drinking Cytomax, which is an electrolyte replenisher. This year I want to take advantage of a high tech energy sustaining product like Perpetuem, so this is a new adventure for me.

I spent the night making my "Baby Bottles" as I have affectionately named them... carefully measuring powder and identifying which bottles they would go into. I planed to start my day with a meal replacement shake called Nutrimeal by USANA. I have used it in the past and noticed how it maintains my "Blood Sugar" levels. No, I am not diabetic, but I do notice when my sugar levels are low or fluxuating. So I set up the blender and identified the frozen fruit that I planned to use as a mix in the next morning.

4:30am comes earlier than one ever imagines... I casually got up and put on my tri clothes that I had staged the night before. I fed the dogs and began the "mixology" experiment I had prepped the night before. The bottles took twenty minutes for me to make... a slice of time that I hadn't accounted for... so I was actually late leaving the house! Since this was a race rehearsal and since there would be approximately one hundred people instead of the full flock of triathletes, their families and friends that will be there on Sunday July 20th, I was going to arrive later than I wanted to but not so late that I would be in jeopardy of missing my race start. I'm glad this timing issue surfaced now and not on the actual race day. The consequences would be significantly more damaging had I not realized how long it would take me to prepare my bottles until my actual race day.

While I arrived later than I wanted, I was able to register, get the appropriate color swim cap for my wave, get body marked and receive my run bib. For the first time in a long time, I realized that I forgot my bike pump... so I had to borrow someone else’s pump to top off my tires before race start. I set up my transition area and hurried to get my wet suit on. I wanted a more leisure orientation to the water than I did the last time... so I wiggled my way into my "Body Stocking" and headed toward the water. -- The race started about 8 minutes late which gave me a few extra minutes to get use to the cold water seeping into my wetsuit through the zipper. I felt "ready to go" when the race finally started.

I swam in the front of the first wave where I was quickly over come by faster swimmers. I will plan to start closer to the side and/or back in the future. We did two loops around the buoys before heading to "T1" our Swim to Bike Transition area. -- I finished the swim in a good time for myself. My watch seemed to be off that day so I don't have my splits to post. I walked quickly up through the sand and into the transition area where I changed and headed out for the 26 mile bike.

Now the bike was the greatest challenge of the day. The race course would head up Lee Hill and on to Old Stage. The steepest part is a 15% grade and the ascend lasted for 2.25 miles. I had practiced the hill once before, so I knew that I would not be able to make it up the hill the whole way. Instead, I had goals of how far up I wanted to ride before stopping. I made it to my predetermined destination and unclipped. I rested there while my heart beat so hard I thought it would come through my chest. I found a slightly level spot on the hill where I clipped back in and proceeded up the hill for as far as I could go... repeating my intervals until finally reaching the row of mailboxes which marked the end of the ascend.

Now down hill is more my forte... I'm not sure what top speed was recorded by my new Garmin GPS Wrist watch. I just enjoyed the wind in my hair as I flew down the mountain ten times faster than I climbed it! The rest of the ride bike route consisted of "Rollers" and soft ascends. While I remember riding that same course in the past, I felt particularly challenged during this rehearsal covering the same ground. My legs spun slower as I pushed myself through the remainder of the course. I was almost to the "Fire station" when my chain dropped, and I didn't have enough momentum to unclip before falling. :::sigh::: So here I was on my new Tri bike struggling to unclip after falling because of a "dropped chain". I was fortunate that I did not hurt anything except my pride... and I was also lucky to have fallen without many people around to see me. Two women training came by to see if I was ok... they weren't part of the CWW group, but were very nice, supportive and generally sweet. Needless to say I was very happy to see the transition area where I would begin T2, the transition from Bike to Run.

I had consumed about 2/3rds of the Perpetuem mixture that I carried in my aero hydration system. It was hard to swallow the thick substance with no plain water to case it. I realized then that I would need to carry an extra bottle of water, so a bottle cage was needed at a minimum. -- After the bike leg, I was tired and not feeling up for a six mile run... I thought I might cover one to two miles, but I felt self conscious about my mile pace which is closer to that of a "Walk" and not a "run"... I was concerned about keeping the race course open longer than others may have wanted to stay. ::: sigh::: I talked myself into heading out anyway. My goal was to run three miles and call it a day.

I decided to not take my run belt with Perpetuem because I didn't think I would need more fuel. In the future I will plan to take the belt anyway if only to sip a few sips from the bottle as my body adjusted to the new sport of running after sitting and cycling. I managed to get to the 1.5 mile water station and noticed an energy increase which allowed me to move from a walk to a fast trot. The sun was high and I was thirsty... I will plan to carry both water and Perpetuem in my fuel belt in the future. I finished the race with a three mile walk/run rather than the regulation run distance of 6.2 miles... and for the record, there were several other athletes still on the race course long after I came in. There was a part of me that had wished that I would have "trotted" the full 6.2 miles. I had the energy stores to complete the distance... just lacked confidence in my speed as I allowed myself to be more concerned about finishing in a "timely manner". Next time I will finish my full race.

I ended the race feeling confident about my nutrition choices. In the past, I had been feeling light headed and almost faint after previous rehearsals, but the Perpetuem product seemed to be doing it's job. While I didn't finish the full distance of the race, I did get a chance to work through my nutrition concerns and try out my new "Aero Hydration" system. Having ironed out these areas will serve me far into the future of my triathlon and endurance sport adventures.

It feels good to be back in the know about how to hydrate and fuel for the longer distances. While my endurance and weight goals are not quite where I want them to be, I feel the success of working out other critical components of Tri Training and racing. So I end the Boulder Peak Race Rehearsal feeling great about myself and my life and happy about my re-orientation to endurance multi-sport activities!

Big Fun in the Sun!!!

SWIM, BIKE, RUN!!!!!!!!

Boulder Sprint Distance Triathlon (Rehearsal)

Boulder Sprint Distance Triathlon (Rehearsal)
Sunday June 8, 2008 - 8:00am
Air Temperature: 56 degrees
Race Day Weight: 222.2lbs/ 6'0"

Pre-race day is usually a quiet time for me... thinking through transitions (Swim to Bike... Bike to Run). I laid out my CWW Uni-body Tri Suit, Polar watch and running shoes. I packed my wetsuit, goggles, cap and cycling shoes. I spent a little more time preparing for this race. I noticed during the Duathlon just one week ago that I forgot my bike pump as well as my race number belt. There were alternative ways to have my tires "Topped Off" and my race number affixed to a shirt that I would put on after the swim, but it was alarming to realize that I didn't have my own equipment last week. This is something that has never happened in my past. So I carefully packed my bags... secured my bike on to the car, and felt more grounded and prepared going into the Boulder Sprint Rehearsal.

I would need to leave Highlands Ranch at 5:15am to arrive at the Boulder Reservoir at 6:15 for check in. I like to arrive early to allow myself time for leisurely check in, transition setup and bike "shake down". Today was no exception. I hit the road on time... carrying my new Equinox E9 TT/Tri Bike. This will be my second time riding it. I still need to purchase a hydration system as well as a computer to log my mileage, cadence, and to calculate my Miles Per Hour (MPH). Those items are next on the list to purchase.

I have had some challenges transporting the "E9"... the aero shaped top tube doesn't allow my bike carrier to get a secure grip... so occasionally the bike will "Flail" out away from the car... this happened while I was driving 75 MPH down I-36 headed into Boulder. -- I managed to pull over to the shoulder of the road to resecure the bike. I just feel tentative driving fast. I hope to figure out a more secure way to transport my bike in the future.

I ran into a brief shower of rain during my commute... all I could think of was how cold it would be to bike in the rain. The weather had called for high 70's so I didn't have clothes that would shield me from the rain. My prayer was that the rain would cease and the sun would shine so that I would have Big Fun in the Sun! Swim, Bike, Run!

I arrived early, parked and checked in. I was wearing a jacket and pants over my uni-body suit. The air temperature was fifty-six degrees... however, it felt like six degrees. I racked my new bike... being careful to balance it so that it wouldn't fall as it had the week before. I tucked my bike helmet under the front tire to stabilize it. It seemed reasonably secure considering the winds weren't too high.

I socialized a bit before putting on my full leg wetsuit... my friend helped me get the suit positioned correctly... it seemed to ride "up" in areas where it should have been "down". Between the two of us I felt reasonably comfortable and headed to the swim start.

I usually start my "orientation to the water" a bit earlier than I did today. As a result, I had to rush myself into the cold lake water and prepare for a quick "Mass Start". I felt slightly hurried. There were three huge waves... the "White Caps"... those of us who were comfortable in the water were going first. The second wave were those who could make the distance but didn't want to be in the first wave rush, and the third wave were those who needed to swim next to a "Swim Angel"... someone holding a floating noodle in case of panic in the open water. Today I was in wave one, and our race started at 8:00am sharp.

So, off we went... splashing into the sun... arms and legs flailing. I jockeyed for position... trying to find my place... struggling to find my pace... eventually the crowd died down and I found a rhythm that I could sustain for the next eight hundred meters. We swam clockwise, which isn't ideal for me. I breathe to my left and prefer to swim counter clockwise. However, this year I learned a new way to sight... it requires a simple lift of the head to make sure I am on track heading toward the large florescent orange buoys. I learned this at an earlier open water swim clinic and I appreciated the ever so slight change in the way I had sighted before. If you do not sight correctly in open water, you end up swimming "Off Mark". I have always been proud of this skill and I enjoyed the ease the new technique added to my already comfortable sighting style. -- I rounded the first buoy, then the second... now I was on my way "Home"... home being the shore line where the swim leg ended.

I finished the swim in 17:25 (HR Max 152, HR Avg 137). Usually the swim split ends by running across a timing mat which is usually located at the top of the hill and closer to the road before crossing into the Transition area. This timing happens when the timing chip attached to one's ankle crosses the mat. Today I took my split at the sandy shore when I exited the water. This split would usually be at least one minute longer in a "Timberline Timed" event.

So, up the sand we ran... my sensitive feet numb from the cold water... someone put a small pool of water for us to run through... to rinse the sand from our toes. There was also a soft mat trailing into the parking lot shielding our feet from the course black top surface. We were headed into "T1"... the transition from Swim to Bike!

I was wearing my wetsuit which was now unzipped to my waist. I sat down to pull it inside out and off of my legs. I took my time putting on socks and padded gloves to cycle. Had it been a real race I may have opted to bike without socks until my feet were dry and put my socks on during my bike to run transition (T2). Today was slightly more leisurely, so my T1 was 5:46.

Heading out on the bike now the air temperature was warming. The sun was shining and I felt happy. Many were heading out with heavy coats and/or long sleeved jersey's... but I knew that by the time the cycling leg was over, my uni-body tri suit would offer sufficient warmth relative to the temperature and the efforts I put forth on the bike.

I was riding my new E9 (Trek Equinox Time Trial/Tri Specific Bike). It was new for me to get committed to shifting in an aero position. I enjoy closing my hands around the shifters and holding on... making the chain dance across the sprockets... dialing in on the perfect gear for the given terrain that changes minute to minute. All that said, I still felt slow climbing out of the reservoir. The incline was deceptive, but present nevertheless. I geared down and allowed my legs to spin easily... feeling winded by the minor effort, I found a comfortable cadence and continued on my journey.

I somehow wanted more from the bike leg than I was able to give. It had been years since I have biked out of the 'Res... I remember when that particular part of the ride wasn't a challenge... but today was a different story. -- Heading out on to I-36, I also had flash backs of previous "Boulder Peak" attempts and the most memorable "5430 Half Ironman"... all of those bike legs shared this particular part of the road... and I relished in the memory of those races of the past. I realize now that I was in amazing condition back then... I vowed to never criticize my speed as I have in the past... I must stay focused on the ability to cover the distance and relax more in terms of needing to go faster than I naturally do.

So, the route went out I-36 to Hwy 7, to Foothills Hwy then turned right on Neva Road. That particular road has a nice down hill with a hard roller/uphill segment. My legs were excited about the speed we reached going downhill. "On your left" I yelled as I shifted into a higher gear to pedal. It was an enjoyable experience and it encouraged me to spin harder and faster on the flats that were just ahead.

Over all the bike leg went well. I will need to spin flats and rollers to condition my legs to produce and sustain a higher cadence. Next up... "The Run!"

My T2 was reasonable considering I had to change from cycling shoes to running shoes. I slipped on my run shirt with race number pinned to it. I'll have to look for my race belt as the weather gets warmer and it is less desirable to run with a second layer on top.

The run headed out counter-clockwise around the reservoir. I found myself reminiscing about the 5430 Half Ironman I finished in 2003. I remember that road so well... and the time when I volunteered to man a water station at the Boulder Peak! What fond memories I flirted with as I trotted round the bend. The run today was three miles... it seemed like at least four! My legs moved slowly and I dropped to a walk at times on the way out. At the half way mark my pace picked up and I felt a little more of a run come in. It felt great to pull in front of a woman that played "cat and mouse" with me to the half way point.

It was a lonely run as many of the tri team members had completed this leg... but many were also on their way out and I was headed back and would soon be at the finish line.

The finish line was hidden... tucked away from sight on my decent back into the parking lot from which we started. The pink ribbon was finally in view... and I ran through the cheers enjoying the completion of the Boulder Sprint Distance Triathlon Rehearsal!

Boulder Sprint Distance Triathlon Rehersal

S: 17:25 152 max 137 avg
T1: 5:46 168 max 142 avg
B: 1:16:48 160 max 143 avg
T2: 1:31 135 max 126 avg
R: 43:42 175 max 155 avg

Total Time: 2:23:92

CWW Mini Triathlon (Super Sprint Distance)

CWW Mini Tri - Saturday May 17, 2008

May 17th... that day seemed so far off in the distance when I attended the first CWW Triathlon Team meeting back in January.

Amazingly enough this Saturday has magically come and gone... and this was my experience:

I set my alarm for 4:00am... slightly earlier than I wanted to wake. I had just sold my eight year old Raleigh R-600 to an interested tall, young triathlete. I drove away wondering what I would ride in the "Mini-Tri"that was less than 12 hours away... yet I knew within my heart that selling my current bike was the next best step in my Triathlon Cycling adventures.

I borrowed a bike from my Tri Coach Ellen... a bike she use to race "back in the day"... the Shamano R600 gearing was an upgrade from the Shamano 105's that I use to ride. I pumped the tires realizing that this bike would be my saving grace in the nearing Mini Tri that was now less than eight hours away.

I laid out my gear with the confidence of an experienced triathlete... using my mind's pre-race check list instead of a paper one. Polar Heart Rate Monitor, both watch and strap... sports bra, new CWW uni-body Tri Suit. Swim goggles, running shoes and my trusty white cap with it's gentle visor to shade my face from the sun.

I usually spend more time working out my race day nurition... but considering the distances of this "Super Sprint" I did not go through my normal "bottle making" ritual.

I calculated my finishing times as follows:

Swim: 400 Meters Aprox 8 min
Bike: 6.6 Miles Aprox 30 min (13.1 MPH)
Run: 1.5 Miles Aprox 30 min (14 min Mile Pace)

I calculated my race time to be a little over one hour so I opted to eat a Protein bar the morning of the race and fuel after the race was complete.

I arrived at Wash Park at 4:30am... certainly one of the first to arrive. I wanted to allow for plenty of time to find a parking space and the "Check In" counter.

I was greeted with friendly, cheery volunteers who marked my name as present and gave me my race number for the day.

I was then shuffled off to be "Body Marked"... exposing my arm and leg to the cold morning air just long enough to be traced by the thick tipped magic marker. -- Off to the Transition area to set up.

The grass was wet with dew, so I didn't want to lay my dry towel on the ground. I balanced it on the back of my bike. I reluctantly removed my warm shoes and walked barefoot through the cold, wet grass to the swim start.

While the mini tri was well attended, it failed to simulate the "Sea of Bikes" that often exists on a real "Race Day". I didn't have to practice locating my bike from the Swim Finish as well as scoping out the "Bike Start/Finish". It was refreshing to just practice setting up my transition area and preparing myself to combine sports again as I have been training single sport since the beginning of the year.

Wave #2 had beautiful Yellow Swim Caps neatly imprinted with the CWW Logo on the side. We would be swimming in a lap pool instead of open water, and we would swim "two to a lane" for the length of 400M or 10 minutes, which ever came first.

The first wave of swimmers were coming out and we aligned by our lane counter who would signal us when we were on our last lap. The water was warm, which was nice to enter after standing in the chilly morning air.

I had goals of swimming two-minute hundred splits for my 400M... but to my surprise my splits were closer to 2:07:00... I know I've held a sub-two split during my practice swims, so I was left wondering what had added to my time that morning.

Off to T1 (The first (Swim to Bike) transition of a Triathlon)

I ran to my bike simulating a hurried pace... volunteers and coaches were clapping and cheering us on. I put on my running shoes because the bike I would be riding had "Look" clips which were different than the SPD's on my cycling shoes. I knew I only had to make six miles, so I thought it was ok to ride with my feet on top of the clips instead of clipping in.

I headed out for two laps around the outter edge of Wash Park. Round and Round my legs went. It took me a while to get use to the aero handle bars and the gearing... but after awhile, I felt comfortable and shifted with ease and grace.

My goal was to "not be caught" by anyone from Wave #2. I'm not sure if I met my goal or not, but I felt good and reasonably fast riding that cool morning.

Bike leg over, off to T2 (The Bike to Run transition)

My T2 was faster than usually because my running shoes were already on. I put on a second shirt that I had pinned my race number to, and off I went.

Now when I run, my legs usually don't move very fast... and my gate never seems to be very wide... but my goal for the run leg was to "Run". So I trotted along... one foot after the other... we had to do three laps around the lake. There was water at the half way mark of the loop where two pleasant volunteers served those of us that were runners.

Round and round I went... one foot after the other. There were times when I felt like I wasn't moving at all...

...but eventually I made it around the lake for my third loop and headed down the finishers shoot! CWW had a pink ribon as our target... so I did the "Vanity Sprint" toward the ribon... feeling like an "Ironman Finisher" as the ribon fell against my body!

I was also given a finshers trophy! It read, "I did it!" A tiny tear formed in my eye as I thought about the sense of accomplishment that I often experience by participating in and training for Triathlon's. There's so much more involved than a simple "Swim, Bike and Run". I find that my self confidence and over all self esteem is tied to my performance and careful execution of the goals I set for my tri training. I also notice my committment and desire to improve is lifted as I participate and connect with others who also enjoy share in this lifestyle.

I conclude this race report in gratitude for all of those who participate in this lifestyle and sport... and for all who coach athletes like myself... who believe in us until we can believe in ourselves.

Thank you all for lifting me up... for helping me reach my goals and dreams.

Thank you for your inspiration and motivation... I am grateful to your contribution to my life!

~~ Carla Lynn 5/17/2008 - CWW Mini Tri

Swim: 8:27.3

T1: 2:34.8

Bike: 17:55.6

T2: 1:00.0

Run: 26.29.5

Total: 56:27.2

Reunion with Mile Marker Three

One of my favorite ways to do long runs is to do an "Out and Back". That means you run out from some starting point one-half your distance then run back. Today my goal was to run six miles so I chose to run on the High Line Canal starting at Goodson Rec Center.

The High Line Canal is a great place to run especially starting at Goodson Rec Center because this is the home of "Mile marker Zero"! You can run in either direction finding mile markers at every half mile. It is a delightful, "packed-dirt" trail... lined with beautiful mansions, vegetation, and wildlife.

There are advantages and disadvantages to the "Out and Back" style of running. I'm not sure if this is an advantage or disadvantage, but once you get to the half way mark, there are no short cuts to get back... so it helps you stick to your original commitment and complete your mileage for the day.

Back when I was training for a marathon or half ironman, I remember running out past mile marker six before turning around. It has been quite some time since I have done distances like that. So today was a very special day... ...as today was my reunion with mile marker three... a marker that I haven't seen in over five years.

My running experience was almost surreal... I trotted along achieving an almost meditative state... then every once in a while my legs would have a flash back... a memory of the distance runs I've done in the past... I could feel my pace pick up... my tempo quicken... then I would slow down again... trying to keep my upper body relaxed... listening to my foot strike and the rubbing sound my arms made as the material of my wind breaker brushed my side.

I liked watching the houses I passed... wondering who lives there... wondering about their professions and past times...

My mile splits were as follows:

Mile 1 - 14:21.o - 136 avg heart rate, 150 max

Mile 2 - 15:15.2 - 142 avg heart rate, 151 max

Mile 3 - 15:25.3 - 142 avg heart rate, 156 max

Mile 4 - 16:42.2 - 139 avg heart rate, 152 max

Mile 5 - 15:32.4 - 148 avg heart rate, 158 max

Mile 6 - 14:47.5 - 149 avg heart rate, 164 max

Total Elapsed Time: 1:32:03 - 143 avg heart rate

I promised myself that I wouldn't be critical of my mile pace... just one short month ago, I could not run at all, so I praise my efforts today and stand proudly in honor of my mile splits.

I finished the day with a two mile walk with a friend around Daniels Park... over looking the vastness of Colorado... catching up and communing...

...how wonderful and amazing this state is...

...how wonderful it is to be back into running...

...how wonderful it is to simply be alive!

In Gratitude,

Carla Lynn!

Saddle Training - Day 1

No matter how many Meters you swim in a pool...
No matter how many Miles you run...

...there is nothing that can "Train the Saddle" except for riding!

I did my first bike ride at Cherry Creek State Park last night... beautiful weather... cool, sunny skies... no wind... air temperature 63 degrees.

My goal for this workout was to "Spin and Grin" from the West Park Entrance making "The Tower Loop".

I was hesitant to pack my cycling gear the night before. I couldn't remember where I put my helmet, gloves, cycling shoes and the like. I reluctantly attached the bike rack to the hitch on the back of my car... strapping in my bike securely.

I reluctantly inflated the tires to optimal pressure... after finishing the setup, I actually felt pleased with myself. I pulled my car in "Extra Tight" to avoid the garage door from closing on my aero bars.

I loaded up the car with my padded cycling shorts, a short sleeve CWW top and the other gear that I eventually located. It hadn't been used since last August when I did Danskin Seattle with my study partner from graduate school.

I was in much better spirits the next day... knowing that after work "I would ride!" !!! Slowly but surely it's coming back. Locating my gear was probably the greatest challenge. So, I re-installed the clipless pedals and tightened my seat and now I was ready to ride!

I wobbled out of the parking lot and headed over to the park. I "missed" the pedal several times before I was able to clip in. My cateye computer battery had died. All the things you find out on the first ride of the season. I gained momentum heading down the hill and into the park... I began to pedal as I felt the rode under the bike...

Aaah yes... a nice day at the park... round and round my legs went... I practiced being down in the aero position using the softly padded arm rests. I was unstable, but surprisingly comfortable otherwise. I rarely ride using good form, however, this is a goal for 2008.

The route seemed longer than usual. I know that park like the back of my hand... the many years I have both biked and ran this same loop. My pedaling was slow... which was ok since my goal was to just "ride". That part I had already accomplished.

I was passed by several "peloton's"... cyclists in high gear and high cadence. They passed me as if I were standing still. "I want to ride like that" I thought to myself... and maybe one day I will. For today all I had to do was "Push and Pull"... "Spin and Grin".

On the way back I noticed my "Sit bone"...

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had on padded shorts, but it felt like I was riding on a bed of nails!! I squirmed to find an area that was "less tender"... unfortunately I wasn't successful. I rode standing up!

I know from experience that as I train...

...my "Saddle area" will be more tolerant of that "mean bicycle seat" that I sat on...

...my legs will be stronger and desire to spin faster...

For now... this is the first day of "Saddle Training"...

...and...

...it hurts!

Baby Steps: Re-learning to run

Some people experience accidents... surgery... or some physical change to their bodies that impact their running speed and/or endurance levels and they have to take time to allow their bodies to recover or re-learn how to do the activities that they did effortlessly in the past.

I tried to run yesterday... for the first time since August 2007... seven months ago... I thought I could "Run" some interval then walk for the distance of 4 miles, but after "WOG'ing" for a mile and a half, my legs just gave out.

...they felt stiff and heavy... very rigid and rock like... I wasn't sure what was happening.

I'm a marathon'er I thought... I'm a triathlete... an endurance triathlete, but my bodies message was to slow down or stop. I stopped.

Initially I felt pretty discouraged... thinking that my plans for completing an Olympic Distance Triathlon this year were somehow now unrealistic. My feelings were hurt as I had expected so much more from my body than it was able to give in that moment... I withdrew emotionally and went home.

I realize now that I must be patient... "Baby Steps" as a dear triathlete told me today... I know from past experience that the body is resilient and amazing... and usually responds well with slow, consistent increments of distance and speed.

The solution is simple... I just have to stay with it...

...but in this moment, it seems like a marathon's distance away... for now I will take Baby Steps... one foot at a time... remaining balanced and hopeful...

...soon I will run!