Winter Wonderland

When the first snowstorm of the season hits, what better time is there to drive 10 miles in the blizzard on your rest day! First of all, it's way too early in the pre-season to make excuses. Even though Coach Waterstraat's Tuesday workout was hard core (bike-strength-bike-strength brick), I pushed out my 45 minute run last night plus drills and an hour strength training with Giulia. My legs felt like bricks for the first 15 minutes on the treadmill. It was horrible. Instead of slowing down, I looked outside at the blizzard and thought how great I will feel in the spring when I have 6 months of building behind me. It was a quiet night at the club but my mind was heating up. I also remember how happy I was to be comfortable doing my drills around the club in between my run because "my people get it!"

It's a great feeling when you can get in your zone. Nothing can get in your way- blizzards, -19 wind chills tonight, annual condo board meetings... it's safe to say that my training addiction has taken center stage finally and I am loving it. I had my own swim lane the last 2 weeks on speed night and it really allows me to get in my groove. I did 2200 yards and worked on hand entry, catch, and BR5 (hypoxic breathing every 5 stroke). The new breathing exercises are allowing me added time under water without having to break so often for breathing. I can feel the water more and those extra 2 strokes give me more time to think about hand entry consistency and rotation. My shoulder felt good and so did my wrist, but the quick turns at the wall on speed night tire my wrist out because of the repetitive force in extension. Definitely tolerable, and probably even good exercise, so I'm not complaining. I wonder if that's just how it will be.

Tomorrow morning, on a vacation friday, I'll get up early to bike 35/run 50 fartlek (speed intervals) at the club. Should be good. Heading to Naperville to see Invictus, with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon with the family for my brother's birthday. Need to do Christmas shopping as well. Oh yeah, I forgot it's actually Christmas time! I thought it was just Pre-Season time! Oh, how I long for a life of only triathlon. In the meantime, I will be happy enough to know that while I'm barreling through the snow to swim/bike/run, hopefully my competition is sipping eggnog lattes in front of a fireplace somewhere.