The Monday Brick

Okay, I think I've somewhat figured something out with myself. I think I'm finding a direct correlation between how fit I am and how high my stress level currently stands. Let's just say I'm pretty darn fit right now! I find great comfort and peace in going out and training. It truly levels out some of the stress within me. I'm not sure if it's spiritual, the endorphins, or what. I'm certainly not a sports scientist, but I have a feeling it's a combination of the two. I had a great talk with the Lord today on the bike and we worked some things out. He allowed me to have a good and intense workout while He seemed to be speaking to my spirit. It was quite encouraging.

At any rate, I had a good workout and was pleased with the result of my achilles situation after my bike AND a short 15 minute run. It doesn't seem to be bothering me like it did in the past, so I'm hoping that if I continue to go slow and ease back into the run portion, hopefully it won't bother me.

I haven't spoken to Troy today but I know he's extremely busy this week and I don't know what he's going to be able to fit in this week either. I do know that he's got a 40 minute run and weight training scheduled for today, so hopefully he'll get that in this afternoon or tonight. We'll see.

Getting Down to the End

Today was a shitty day! I'm just going to say it for what it was! I apologize if that was offensive, but there was just no other way to put it, in my mind. I'll just say that life threw me somewhat of a quite sensitive curve ball and I didn't do a very good job of hitting it. I'll leave it at that.

I've still yet to have done my training for the day and neither has Troy, but we're waiting for the temperature to drop a bit before we brave the elements. Today is a 30 minute bike and a 30 minute run. Troy and I both are going to do them back to back in order to get our legs accustomed to the transition on Saturday. It's what the triathlon community refers to as a brick. So in essence, we're about to do our brick! Oh the joy!

A Slight Set-back

So Sunday night, the night of Father's Day, I went for my 45 minute run at the track. I decided to run a 10 minute easy warm up, stretch, then run sprint intervals. All went well and I even broke through the wall and felt good toward the end on the warm down run. However, the next day (which was yesterday) I woke up with some serious calf pain in my left leg. I have no idea where it came from and I have no idea what I did to cause it, but it definitely feels like an injury rather than just a cramp. Luckily, I only had our Monday weight lifting so I didn't have to run yesterday. However, today I woke up and the pain is still very much there - even after icing and stretching yesterday.

Today, Troy and I rode for 45 minutes on the bike and we're supposed to do 15 minute run. But with my leg in this shape, I've decided to lay off of the running until the pain goes down and double up on the bike. So I'll end up doing another ride this evening to replace the run I was supposed to do. I guess this is how the real triathletes adjust when dealing with injury. This is the only way I know how to deal with it other then not doing anything and, for me, that's not an option at this point.

Troy's still sticking with the training and seeming to still enjoy it. He's slowly and steadily still losing weight and, for the most part, really staying true to the training schedule. Yesterday he felt a bit sick and instead of going to the gym to lift, he ended up riding for 40 minutes. I was slightly impressed because he could've actually had an excuse to do nothing.

This morning, Troy also (I was just told) knocked out a brick! I'm jealous that he got to do that and I couldn't because of my calf. I'm just going to listen to my body and let it heal so I don't worsen things by trying to over do it. Updates to follow.

Hittin' Bricks!

Today was a scheduled "brick" day. A brick, in triathlon terms, is when you ride then run immediately after as if you would in an actual race. Brick workouts are extremely tough but necessary in triathlon training. Troy and I pulled a brick this morning by riding for 40 minutes and running for 10. That was what was scheduled. However, I ended up riding for 30 minutes and running for 15 due to today's work schedule. Even though I made it through quite nicely, it was tough once I was done. I found myself fatigued and my calves were very sore. I keep wondering when my legs will get used to the soreness, yet I always feel like my legs are in a perpetual state of soreness. Not necessarily a bad sore, but that good healthy soreness that one gets after a hard workout. That's what I seem to always have in my calves.

Troy did his brick too and evidently ran at a very slow and painful pace. He reported that it took him 15 minutes to run just over a mile. However, he did it and that's the main thing!

Bricks are TOUGH!