A Rejuvenation Week

You've heard of recovery weeks during or after training, right?

Well, I've decided to make this a "rejuvenation week."

With many team mates enjoying the afterglow of an inspiring and successful race at Timberman (congrats, all!)

and...

Coach B devising some masterful combination of recovery and taper between Timberman and Ironman Wisconsin

and...

Ironwoman Canada absorbed in all the wondrous activities of being a new mom to her recently arrived 8 lb. 10 oz. baby girl

I am left a bit to my own devices.

The past few weeks have been full of decent, solid training. A workout cut short here or there, but, overall, I have been very good.

So this week is about doing what I want to do when I want to do it.

I wanted to swim with the Guppies on Monday with Guppy JW leading the workout during Ironwoman Canada's maternity leave - even though he followed Ironwoman Canada's instructions to the T and made us do some ridiculous 100 intervals.

I wanted to sleep in this morning (if it wasn't for the 5:00 am wake-up call, I would have wanted to join TRIgirl DL for our Osborne ride) and I wanted to spend time with the furkids this afternoon - thereby inadvertently deciding that I'll either be switching my rest day - or - gasp - having two rest days this week.

I want to bike with TRIDi (and her entourage) tomorrow morning and check out her most recent, favorite course (through my neck of the woods, yay!). We may even need to discuss future Blackbird events.

I want to swim long and easy on Friday morning.

I want to bike with REB60 this Saturday on the RABA Coates route - an overdue reunion after many memorable winter and spring rides. Now if only Popsrcr and TRIDi would join us...

And I think a massage appointment is necessary in there, somewhere...I need to get on that.

(Oh, did you notice? No "I want to run..." plans? Well, I hardly ever WANT to run (though I'll pretend I do to get in a few other workouts this week)).

Next week, it is back to business and religiously following schedules - but for the upcoming four or five days - training is about relishing the joys of challenging swims and bikes with a few of my favorite folks (while the others recover or taper).

And, sigh, trying to hate running a little less.

Race Report - Route 66 Sprint - Saturday's Relay

First, some background.

This weekend's triathlon doubleheader was thanks to my company's incredible CEO. A year or so ago, he was bitten by the tri-bug. Since, then, he has promoted wellness and exercise through company-wide programs, including coordinating tri competitions during this year's annual conference. I am so fortunate and grateful to work for corporate executives who, not only offer outstanding medical benefits, but also promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Over 50 (of about 470ish employees across the nation) participated in yesterday's Route 66 Sprint Triathlon. Most signed up for a relay leg, but a few were undertaking their first sprint distance race.

A bus was waiting at 5:45 race morning to take our group to El Reno. I can't imagine the thoughts of those who watched our crew (about 20% of the day's participants) disembark the bus and grab bikes from a UHaul.

Knowing a few folks were newbies, I offered help, such as gently telling coworkers that race chips belonged around ankles vs. wrists.

Remembering the shock of open water compared with pool swimming, I encouraged my relay swim partner to test out El Reno lake, a very murky body of water, with a strong current.

We swam a few strokes before I realized she was trying to swim freestyle with her head completely above the water. Then she was panicking. She did not think she could do the swim.

I tried to conjure up every tip I'd ever learned about feeling comfortable in the water. We worked on swimming to and from landmarks closer to shore and where we could always touch the bottom. She was doing better.

Soon, after, the race started. This was my first relay (bike leg) so I watched with a bunch of coworkers from the shore. Right from the gun, the panic was apparent and the kayakers rescued a few racers before they reached the first buoy. The boats brought in about 20 racers - but I did not see my coworker. I breathed a cautious sigh of relief and headed to transition to wait for her.

The first wave racers were pulling in, as well as some relay racers from my company. Suddenly, my coworker was at my side. She asked for assistance at the second buoy - and was pulled in by a rescue boat. Officially DQed, but still excited - she had made her personal goal to swim to the second buoy.

Fumbling for a second about whether we could still continue as a relay team, we switched the chip anklet and I grabbed Patriot Sangria.

Off to ride the 12ish worst miles I'd ever encountered.

There were small rolling hills.

And the strongest wind I've ever encountered. Not just an occasional wicked gust or two - but a constant crosswind that challenged my ability to stay aero - a battle I often lost as Patriot Sangria was being blown across the road. The last, long gradual hill back to transition seemed treacherous as it was smack into the ridiculous headwind.

Twelve and a half miles on the bike took me about 44 minutes.

In transition, I happily handed the chip to our team's runner - who rocked the 5k in about 29 minutes!

I loved watching my fellow employees race - for many this was their first triathlon. Their pride, excitement and joy left me exhilerated. I heard more than once about "next time."

We traded stories about the day.

We watched several teams (somehow even mine) receive awards.

We celebrated.

It was incredible.

Though I can't say I was very excited about the next day's Olympic race - and grappling with 25 miles of Oklahoma wind.

The "Just Do What You Can" Workout

For various reasons, the past two weeks included a couple of missed workouts. Some of the reasons were fun - like having family in town. Some of the reasons were stressful - like a few very long work days.

The hump day was Wednesday, which started with hectic last minute tasks to pull off an open house/services showcase at work - which was planned for that evening - which continued with post event celebrating with staff and corporate bigwigs - and ended with me waiting around 1:00 in the morning to have the boot removed off my car because I parked in the wrong spot in our parking garage when dropping off wine and beer 17 hours earlier.

Needless to say, I missed Wednesday's swim.

Thursday, I was exhausted. I convinced myself to attempt a six mile run and an hour on the trainer but lowered my expectations to just keeping one foot in front of the other. After the first two miles of my run, I had to push myself to continue after seeing some pretty pitiful paces.

But then something weird happened. The guilt that drove me to start my workout was replaced with relief to be outside, even though it was cold and damp, and acceptance of whatever it was my body was willing to do. Strangely enough, without consciously trying, the paces for the last four miles picked-up.

The hour on the trainer was solid - not my best, but enough of a workout to leave my legs feeling a little tight and tired.

The overall exhaustion was still lurking behind the scenes as I started nodding off around 9:00 that evening.

After a great night's sleep, my battery has begun recharging. I'm looking forward to riding tomorrow with TriDi, Popsrcr and REB60. I'm almost looking forward to running 10 miles this weekend. And I'm itching to get back into the pool!

Next week's schedule looks promising for getting back on track.

But I am oddly satisfied with yesterday's less than stellar workout.

Happy Holidays (albeit belated)

Hope everyone had a great holiday. The hubby, furkids and I are on our way home from spending Christmas in New York. We had a wonderful time – and I can’t believe the holiday season is winding down for another year.

Though I have to say, I’m not sure if it was the extra workouts, the excitement of a new puppy, a work schedule that did not lighten up as much as previous years, or just general malaise, but it seemed harder to get into the holiday spirit this year. I went through the motions – put up the decorations, mailed the cards, baked the cookies, etc. – but didn’t really experience the “holiday feeling” until the 22nd, when I was wrapping up the last few presents and suddenly started to feel a mixture of excitement and sentimentality – a touch of the wonderment that made waiting for Christmas seem like an eternity when growing up.

So for four days, IMFL was back burnered – though I was told by a friend that doing it seemed obsessive – and really just tried to enjoy the exhausting whirlwind that is Christmas. I ate what I wanted – and didn’t worry about missing my scheduled bike and weight class. I did fit in two short runs – including one made more special because my brother joined me. But mostly, I enjoyed the annual traditions and the time spent with family, the furkids and friends.

Tomorrow I’ll be getting back on track with workouts – and cutting calories here or there to loose the couple of pounds I’m pretty sure I gained the last few days. But the slip was worth it – for the last three or four days, the holiday cheer abounded by being able to enjoy Christmas with the folks I care about most. And you just can’t take that for granted.