Tri Class #7: Bike/Run over and over

Yesterday was harsh. I slept badly the night before and just felt ill that morning. I forced down some oatmeal and went to Lagoon Drive. Here, we laid out our running gear and got on our bikes. We did a warm up ride going from the second parking lot, out to the street, turn left on Lagoon, and then all the way down and back. I'm told the Lagoon Drive section is 4 miles total, so 2 miles each way. There was a side-wind that hurt a bit more on the way back than out.

After the warm up, we all met at the parking lot and then started out on the workout. The goal was to bike the same route we did as the warm up, then run two loops around a section of the park, about 1k. The run loop was started from the car, you go left on the grass, then turn right around the nearby backstop, heading straight back to the concrete poles along the ground, turn right until the next backstop where you turn right again to go straight back to the car. Repeat the bike/run two times for a total of three bike/run iterations, 12 miles biking, 3k running.

On the very first round, I made a big error. I knew I should have taken it easy, but ego got in the way. I got passed by another biker, who I know is far better than me, and he urged me to stick with him (he's normally really nice. Really!). Stupidly, I thought I'd try, just to see if I could. I did, but I paid later. I was proud of myself for sticking with him, and he congratulated me at the end of that bike. We both knew I'm no where near his calibur, and he knows I only started biking three months ago. So, although I paid for it later, it was still a feat of which I'm rather proud.

Next was the run, normally my strongest suit (not saying much I'm afraid). I hopped off the bike and changed the shoes and took off my helmet and glasses. Some people ran with their helmets on, but I didn't think it was worth saving the few seconds it cost. I started to run and realized my legs were very wobbly. What startled me more was that after about 50 feet or so, my heart rate shot up and my breathing went a bit ragged. I don't have a heart rate monitor, but I could just feel it. I kept running though, albeit much slower than I thought I was going to, and eventually finished.

Iteration number two. Not so hot on the bike this time. I thought I was going to get to ride with my "rabbit" again, but he got through the stop light and I didn't. It's probably just as well, it turns out I probably couldn't have done it again anyway. Instead, when I got the green light, I put in a decent ride. I passed a few people and eventually sat on someone's tire (I asked if he minded if I drafted). I know I can't draft in a race, but this is training, and I was feeling a bit ill at this point. I realized I had eaten a smaller breakfast than usual because I could barely get things down, so I pulled out an energy bar and took a few bites. Dang it, hungry again!

Finished the bike, not incredibly happy with it, and then back to the run. Noted that I had dropped a half-lap or so from the people that were running with me earlier. Briefly considered skipping one lap and promptly kicked that thought out of my head. This is training, it's supposed to suck. It just means I'll do better next time. I know that logically, but it's cold comfort when you're suffering.

Final bike! It's easier to suck it up when you know you're almost done. I didn't draft off anyone this time, I just toughed it out. I didn't pass anyone, but I didn't get passed either, except from one guy as we left the stoplight together. Why did I always get that red light? I think I put a little distance between me and the guy behind me, but it's hard to tell.

The final run wasn't very memorable except that I did learn something. Apparently, I can't eat and run at the same time. I had taken the last little piece of my energy bar with me on the run, about two bites worth. I took one bite and started to chew. I kept chewing and eventually realized I couldn't seem to swallow. It's stupid, but my body was resisting swallowing that down while I was running. Perhaps the chewing was making my breathing go a bit off, I don't know, but I had to walk for 15 seconds or so while I swallowed that bite and polished off the rest of it. Very strange. I'll have to experiment with that, I'd think the ability to eat and run would be a useful skill to have.

Total time ~1 hour, 12 minutes. Or roughly 24 minutes per iteration. I wish my watch had a lap function so I would know what all the bike/run/transition breakdowns are. Someday.

After all this, you'd think the coaches would have pity on us and let us go, but of course that's just foolishness. Instead we did 7 sets of different crunches, 25 each. Normal, two types of obliques-style, leg lifts, legs up and reaching, bicycle, and something else I can't recall. This was followed by 25 dips, and 2x10 pushups.

Talking to one of the coaches afterwards, she said "You're getting stronger." That's good to hear. I think I am, but it's nice to know that someone else thinks so, too. I had seen her out on the course a few times and she cheered me on. At one point I noted that it sounded like she was surprised to see me, I guess she was. She probably expected me to be further back. It's progress.

Summary:
Bike 4m, Run 1k. Repeat 2 more times.
Obscene number of crunches along with dips and pushups.

Notes:
Learn to eat while running.