Back on the Horse

I'm not sure if a study has ever been commissioned which sought to determine the effects of 48 hours of travel and about fifteen pints of quality lager on the human body -- but after my last week, I can tell you there is no need. It causes fatigue and lots of it.

With a five day trip to Munich and London, with a good friend of 30+ years traveling with me to boot, I wanted to be sure to bookend my trip with the workouts called for in the third week of my training program. I had hit the bike and pool hard in the first two weeks and while week three would be split over two weeks, I didn't want to lose any momentum.

Monday, February 16

1:20 Bike, with 8 x :20 Power Intervals

Writing this some ten days hence, I just remember that I felt really good after a solid weekend swim and challenged myself to maintain the 200 watt pace that I had been able to accomplish on the power intervals the first two weeks. As with other rides, the presence of a ghost rider made it really easy to get motivated (not to mention the week off staring me in the face) and I rode REALLY hard. In fact, not only did I leave the 200 watt pacer in my wake, I also beat my ghost rider by several minutes. Cruising into the completion of a challenging 21 mile course ahead of the 1:20, I also eclipsed the 17mph marker, one which seemed unlikely just two weeks earlier.

I felt real good and I was ready to attack the break.

Not too ready, though, as I managed to do absolutely nothing until my return on the 24th. In fact, my friend busted out a pretty good 48 minute run on a beautiful Saturday in London -- while I sat watching rugby on the couch with another friend who also pooh-poohed the exercise.

Tuesday, February 24

800 Yard Base Swim

Funny I should use the word "poo," as that is exactly what I felt like as I hit the pool on Tuesday morning. First of all, the fates were not in my corner in even allowing me to do the swim -- as I made my way to my standard pool, the entire facility was closed due to a water main break. Never fear, I thought, as the "alternate gym" about three miles away was equipped with a lap pool -- not my first choice, but it would do in a pinch. Only just.

You see, I jumped in and started to swim my base sets, which were supposed to be 1450 yards, even with my modifications, and I trudged along slowly. Slow and steady, to be sure, but slow nonetheless. I was happy to be back working out, but also feeling as if the last few nights of drinking, not to mention the 22.5 hours of flying the day before was well and truly doing me in.

Then came the reprieve. I don't wish to make it seem like it was welcome, as I had actually hit a rhythm when the maintenance crew announced that they needed to "vacuum the pool." Vaccum the pool?? Seriously? It's a 24 hour fitness facility - is 10:30 on a Tuesday the right time?

Maybe it was kizmet as I pulled myself out after a hard final length, sat in the jacuzzi for another ten, and "eased" myself into the rest of my training. Did I mention I would be heading to Bangkok on Saturday? At least there my cousin's pad has a pool and gym, but it does without saying that I was eagerly anticipating a couple weeks off when I could put my head down and hammer out my workouts -- not to mention spend a bit more time with my kids.

Wednesday, February 25

1hr Foundation Bike

If Tuesday was my day to rediscover my sea legs, Wednesday served that purpose for the bike. For the first time, I was heading to the gym by my daughter's school -- no fancy course on the screen, only the depressing news on CNBC, and fewer stats, but a good hard spin bike that would let me churn out an hour at a reasonable pace and absorb the good weeks I had put in already in February.

Unfortunately, even that interval ride last week seemed a million miles ago, at least at first. Lactic acid was the winner on this day as I could feel the heavy, thick stuff filling my thighs and calves from minute one. I didn't quit, which I would like to think is an improvement on where I was early in my half-Ironman training in 2007, but I didn't impress either. I rolled along at about 150-160 watts, getting in a good 15 miles and breaking a solid sweat, but the 170-185 heartrate I had been getting to the first couple weeks was replaced by a decent, but uninspiring 145-155. It still felt like hard work and it all has value -- there is a reason, after all, that it's called a foundation bike -- I'm laying the ground work for some serious efforts to come. I'm happy to have stuck with it and happy to check another workout off of the list (still not having missed one!) -- another ride sits there for me on Friday, not to mention a challenging swim tomorrow, so I'll keep on plugging.