Endurance Turtle A journey through this turtles triathlon adventures

On Wednesday was the first brick of the season for George and I. The group actually started it last Wednesday, but we couldn’t make it to that one. Everyone met up at the usual place near the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center at 5:30PM and we rolled out from there. The idea would be to do 16.5mph the first time around, then go up to 17.5, then 18.5 etc. We went through the first lap, bordering on the 17 mph mark and by the second lap came around we were up to 19.5. It is a slight grade going up, so going that fast even in a pace line can be difficult. I made it half way up the second lap and had to drop off completely. And not just slow down…actually come to a complete stop because I could not breath. After that I went around the bowl by myself for 4 laps. In total I biked 12.5 miles in 47:34, we were supposed to do 6 laps but I thought I would get a head start on the run since it takes me so long. So I cruised back to the car, racked my bike and made a point to get out on the run quickly. I didn’t want to dilly dally because I need to get better at the bike to run transition and getting my legs used to running. When I first started running I felt really tight so about 2 minutes into the run I stopped and stretched my legs a bit. I struggled a bit in the beginning of the run and then picked up the pace on the second part. I did 3.56 miles in 41:34, which is about an 11:30 pace. Once I got back, George was not too far behind me (he actually did more laps on the bike than me) and we chowed down on some PB&Js and I drank my go-tein. We chatted with the group for a bit and then headed over to Subway and split a sandwich. I probably didn’t need that sandwich, because I felt ridiculously full after I ate it. So I think I will rethink my meal choice after the brick.

Next week we are doing the time trial, this is so that we get an overall idea of our fitness in the beginning of the season. Then in the fall we do the same thing and see how our fitness progressed. The time trial is just a 10k on your bike around the bowl, no drafting then the 5k running. You time yourself then enter it into a public spreadsheet. So we will see how I do, I have never been able to really do it before because I am either too lazy or just bored with going around the bowl.

I am going to try and get in some workouts this weekend, maybe a bike ride tomorrow morning. Sunday I am speaking at my Alma Mater to a bunch of students who got accepted into the college and are deciding if they want to go or not. Maybe I can convince a few young gullible teenagers into paying $30k a year for a great education!