Week15 - Longer, Intensifying, the Strength Phase Begins

As we near the 2'nd week build up of this first week of strength phase, my body is feeling it but my mind is still saying yes bring it on but a bit more carefully! I have survived another week of hard training and am starting to feelsome it's effects. Not all bad! My body is responding to the increasing work load and feel confident at this stage of the program that I am right on track with the timing of it and forever ready to forge on.

The swims this week were a bit better but I have to admit that I have hit a plateau in that discipline and really don't think there is enough time to progress with my speed in the pool. However I know I can do much better once we get into open water with my wet suit on so to me it is not a very big deal. My shoulders are getting much better and should be ready to push it much harder in the lake once I get there. The swim is very critical in the Sprint event and I know I will be losing maybe 2-3 minutes there but I will definitely have to make up a lot of time for this in the bike and run portion.

The runs for me this week were a bit more tougher that usual. I have to get into a new pair of cushiony running shoes soon as these ones are almost done for and therefore can feel more shock absorbtion throughout the whole leg transmitting to my back and spine. That is why I think I feel it so much this week. However the muscles seem to be recovering well as the stiffness is gone in no time whatsover. This week I had to work on Sunday which is really my Long Run day but it is a good thing because I had a day off training and did my 18K run today instead. Still felt it though because of my shoes.

The cycling has been all great this past week culminating in my longest distance yet of 105K. I carried 3 and 1/2 bottles of endurance gatorade and one bottle of water with a flask of gels and 1/2 dozen fig neutons. I was drinking every 10 minutes and taking gels every 30 minutes. I absolutely went through everything I had and felt well nourished and hydraded. However I was a bit overdressed sweating like crazy but you know what? Heavily laden with clothes and all those bottles using the training bike, I still managed to average 28.7 K/ph throughout the whole ride so felt good about that. That did not stop me from downing a humongous ice cold glass of thick rich whey protein shake with fruits, berries and almonds. Man did that hit the spot and recovered within a few hours after that ride.

So all in all .....an excellent week of training and looking forward to an easy week off after this next one. Then on with the Sprint Tri in two weekends from now. Ooooh....I am a bit nervous about the swim in this one but I have to remember it is only a training sprint to practice my transitions and to get an overall guage of my condition so far. So what else can I say except keep forging on ahead with caution, and wisdom of what I have learned in the past about such training. Soon it will be sunny and warm Yeaahhhh!