Had a very fun training ride with the MS 150 group this morning.  Started with about 40 riders, and just had a ball.  First loop was on the fast side for me at between 20 and 21 mph.  The second loop was a lot more casual.  two rest stops included in time.

Keep thinking about all the folks doing the IM at CDL  - how awesome for them. 

Pool 22 min sure felt good after a long bike ride this morning and working in the yard.  The new tri shorts worked very well for both the swim and the bike home.  T1=1.05  no socks.

No commute for me today    I choose instead to do the MS 150 training ride tomorrow. And as this is the 7th week of my training plan it had the longest workouts thus far.  So, trying to use my head, and knowing that if I ride 50 miles tomorrow that will put me way outside my planned distance for the week, I'm skipping the extra ride today.  Hope I'm being smart and not just wimpy.  plan to commute to the pool on Sunday, and be back at the commuting next week.

Great run today.  Longest so far this season.  Knee felt FINE.  The new running style seems to be working .  I only walked a little bit, and then not due to pain, but just to rest muscles.

It's a good thing it's a rest day today.  body and legs are fatigued.

Oh my, only seven weeks till the Oly I'm training for.  Gulp.   Tomorrow is long run day, then Saturday starts my second recovery week.  I cannot believe I'm already almost finished with 7 weeks of the 16 week training program.  I almost have figured out how to load my revisions into BT.  :)

Long easy slow ride.  The guys at the LBS took a look at my bike fit tonight, and adjusted my seat up almost an inch, and forward.  Wow, what a difference that small change made in how the bike felt.  Still thinking about raising the handlebars a bit, but the seat change made quite a difference in neck strain while riding. 

Tonight was POURING rain when it was time to go over to the bike shop (where we ride out of), but I knew I needed a new pump, and thought that at the least I could have them fit the bike.  By the time we rode off, there were just puddles, and by the time we hit the main road everything was clear and dry.  Awesome West Texas weather.  A cool 80 degrees, coluds for shade and scenery, and everything is quite green due to all the recent rains.  Had a nice ride.  This is week 7 of the program, which means next week is recovery.  I think I'm ready.  each training day has produced its share of sore and tired muscles.  This should be doing some good.  I certainly feel alive.

Rest day today.  Road bike to work today.  The road bike is much easier than the mtn bike, but time was about the same, probably controlled more by traffic and stop signs than riding speed.

Sometimes I worry that my training is not intense enough or just enough enough.  Then on mornings like this morning when I wake up sore all over from the previous couple days training, I guess I must be doing some good.  I know improving your fitness takes some time, but I want it NOW!  Quads are like rocks today.  Still need more strength.  I think after the next recovery week, I'll add some- starting easy of course.

currently in Week 7 of the 16 week 2x to Olympic

Today's schedule calls for lifting and a long swim.  I bought one of the cheep C9 tops at Target yesterday, and plan to ride the road bike to the pool, the do the swim then transition right to bike.  The only difference between practice and race: 1) unlock the bike, 2) carry my towel and goggles away on the bike (maybe in the water bottle rack?)  Time the swim, transition and bike home.

I've been thinking about this 2 times a week exercise program.  especially for my running, that doesn't seem like enough to help the body adapt to a new exercise.  I'm also concerned about the swim - I've been sneaking an extra swim in on Tuesday (a run day) to make up for shorter runs than the training plan calls for.  My swim days are saturday and Sunday, with no other during the week. Seems like too far inbetween.  The run is Tuesday and Fri.  Perhaps a very short run on Sunday, and swim on Tuesday will be a nice suppliment, but still give me two days a week off.  I think I'm getting pleanty of bike time with commuting Mon, Tue, Fri if possible.  however I need to figure out how to commute on my road bike rather than the mtn bike, at least one or two days.

The swim was good, except my arms were really tired - either from lifting or the swim yesterday.  Practicing T1 was good, I thought it went very fast.  I could probably improve the speed of shoe putting on.  No changing of clothes.  very little drying off - only the head so no drips on glasses.  I think I'll do that on the next swim - maybe Tue morning.  Have to be carefull running out of pool with bike shoes on - slippery.   Tomorrow is rest day.