2 Week 'Til San Diego!

As the San Diego Tri Classic gets closer, I am getting more and more anxious to see how I have improved over the last year.  I actually haven’t done an Olympic Tri since last year’s Tri Classic, but with all of the changes to my workout routine in the last year, I am feeling confident I will improve. 

A large piece of that improvement has been my swim – this time last year I still struggled with decent form.  I would get out the pool each day and stare at some of the elite athletes who glided with ease through the water.  I am happy with how things have changed for me – my Monday morning swim was a solid effort and I enjoyed the feeling of simply being able to push out 1500 meters without any issues or need for stopping.  I did disappoint myself by forgetting to grab my watch before heading off to the pool – but the pool clock managed to do the trick.  It took me 36:07 to complete the 1500 meters – which is still about 3 minutes faster than this time last year.

Tuesday morning was over 90 degrees.  I tried to convince myself, during the first mile, that I was fine – the heat was not a big deal.  However, as I started my ascent into the foothills around mile 2, I just wanted it all over.  I still managed to pull a 9:29 overall pace, but I won’t say it didn’t take every morsel of energy in my body to finish the silly, short run.

Wednesday morning was even a few degrees hotter.  My weather app told me 92 degrees with nary a breeze.  As I headed out and into the Foothills, I was dripping with sweat.  My speed was ok, but hitting the hills left me wanting to cry.  I took a slightly different route to capture my 18 miles – avoiding one of the toughest hills.  I was definitely disappointed in myself, but I knew I didn’t have it in me – in the heat – to get to the top, so bailing was the only answer.  I’ll get it next week – no worries.

Thursday morning, as always, the trails were calling.  The news reported a possible drop in temps, but as I stood outside my car before heading into the hilly darkness, it was still clearly as brutal as ever.  Matt took off and I was shortly behind him for the majority of the run.  Around mile 3.5 I caught up to him walking a bit of elevation.  I was actually relieved to see him walking – but convinced him a tenth or so later to run the lovely descent.  It was not our best 5 mile trail run, given the heat, but we gave it what we could.  There will be plenty of cool days to allow us redemption.  This was just not the week.

Friday morning I planned a slightly longer ride out Pecos and back and hoped Matt might join me.  We’d been giving each other crap all week about who was really faster on the route, so I thought perhaps I’d see him on Friday morning to give our theories a whirl. 

At 5am, we took off and immediately hit a head-wind.  It wasn’t super strong, but it was enough that we both knew we’d have no personal record and we’d be working pretty hard just to keep a 17-18 mph pace.  We came around to the end of Pecos and began to head back – which takes us through a gradual uphill climb for about 4 miles.  After fighting the headwind, we were both pretty spent and were simply taking it easy up the hill.  Not a mile in, two women pulled out in front of us from a side street – seeing us they stepped it up to remain in front.  Then, moments after that, Matt and I heard, “I’m on your left,” as a large guy in a yellow jersey swept past us. 

Twisting my lips, I gave Matt a hard stare.  This was not acceptable.  We knew we were better than this – people in front of us, people passing us.  Meh.  Without a word, we both upped the ante, and got closer to the (now) three some.  They were approaching one of the easier hills, but seemed to all struggle.  That was all we needed, as we made our way around them, with ease.    Looking at our bike clocks, we were moving uphill at 19-20 mph and smiling.  Still no word spoken.  Matt and I could both feel the headlight of one (or more) of the riders behind us – relatively close behind us.  But we carried on, silent.  Our pace increased and the light remained poised between us from behind.  As we hit the hardest hill, Matt and I worked harder than we’d ever done before.  We remained consistent, not dropping below about 17.5 mph on our way up.  It was hard, but incredibly satisfying, and we never let off. 

As we began the short descent, we began to laugh.  We knew we’d left most of them in our dust, but the light behind us remained – and the rider was silent, never attempting to pass us, probably just happy to coast along on our wheels.  We paced ourselves out the flat section of Pecos around 19-20 mph – still a solid effort, but we were no longer killing ourselves.  It was evident that the cyclist behind us was happy right where they were. 

At the end of Pecos Rd, we took a right turn to get a few extra miles on the reservation, when we both turned around to see which rider managed to hang with us for the 5+ miles of hills.  We were astounded.  I am sure we were both positive it was the big guy in the yellow jersey, but nope – it was one of the two women.  We were so impressed. 

At the end of the ride, I thanked Matt for one of the best rides we’d ever shared, and threw my running shoes on for another 3 mile run.  Running off the bike each week has really helped me.  I am feeling pretty good about it and happy I committed to doing it each and every week for the last several. 

It was still warm on Friday morning, but the energy from the ride, sustained me for the whole run and I put forth a solid effort.  Here’s hoping all this work pays off in a couple of weeks.

Saturday morning I awakened after sleeping for nearly 9 hours and headed to the gym for Masters Swim.  Diane questioned my upcoming tri and told me to simply swim – hard – for an hour.  I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I got in the pool and just started to swim.  Ten minutes into my routine, Dan arrived (my nemesis) and was told to share a lane with me.  Oh, god, I was mortified.  He’s so incredibly intimidating, as he laps me after a couple hundred meters.  We managed to stay pretty clear of each other for most of the swim, only smacking fists, once. 

After about 30 minutes, I popped up to check my watch to see how far I’d gone.  I stopped my watch, swiftly removed my goggles and glanced at the time and pace.  “Meredith, what are you doing?” I hear.  It was Diane.  “Checking my distance,” I snapped.  She smiled, “And??”  “1300,” I told her.  “Good, get back in there and finish her up!”

What Diane didn’t see was the smile – it was the fastest I’d ever done 1300 meters.  As I continued, I desperately wanted to check my time at 1500 meters.  I did so very quickly and went right back to swimming alongside Mr. Fabulous.  “35:25!” I repeated it in my head over and over and over, as I pushed out another 500 meters to complete my session.  35:25 is the fastest I have ever done 1500 meters in the pool.  I know everyone saw my excitement as I left Masters Swim.  And, sadly, I know I have Dan to thank.  He intimidates me enough that I work a lot harder while sharing a lane with him.  So, it all works out in the end.

This morning I thought a few of us were meeting at South Mountain park for Silent Sunday.  Aaron said that he and Joe were going to ride – Matt and I needed to run 8 miles.  We never saw anyone else, but the forecast was for lots of rain – and I am sure the guys were not interested in descending the Summit Rd on slick pavement.  So, it was just Matt and me for the run.

Matt took off right away and I kept him in my sights for a solid 2 miles before he disappeared into the hills and the turns of San Juan Road.  The first two miles were uphill and I admit, there was no way I could keep up with him – it was hard enough staying motivated to run.  Some sections are pretty steep, but its really all up for a full two miles.  Then it eases off for the next 2 miles, with rolling hills – but its mostly down.  This provided me a break from the awful, heavy leg feeling I was having.  At mile 3.85, I saw Matt coming back – it was motivating to know he was only 3/10^ths of a mile in front of me, but I was sure that would all change, as I made my way back up the rollers.

It did.  I had to walk some of the hills.  I was tired, wet and overheated.  As I crested mile 6, however, I was thrilled to be on the descent and kept a solid pace all the way back to the parking lot.  Matt, of course, waited for me – but the sap had to wait 9 minutes.  He took that course like a champ.  One day I hope to be like Matt (on the run… I mean, ‘cause I hope to be like Dan in the swim)!

When it was all said and done we were soaked from the humidity and the slight drizzle that kept us company for most of the run.  We didn’t even hug each other – it was a mere fist bump.  We were simply too disgusting for words. 

I have one more week of decent efforts – then I taper for race day.  I can’t wait!!!

Oh, here are some shots from other runners who completed their 8 milers, today too!!  So proud of everyone for checking in and letting me know they managed – even in the rain and the heat!  

Miss Anne

Miss Hannah

Well done, Hannah, Anne and Matt!!