Ol' Blue Rides Again

I feel great after my 4 days of rest. Refreshed, revived. Like a soap commercial. The muscle tension in my right calf is gone entirely, staying with me about 36 hours or so after Wednesday's run. I'll run tomorrow, as scheduled, but I'll watch it carefully - at the first sign of anything, I'll stop and take the week off. Since my training starts shifts tomorrow, away from the distance and run-centric base training, I actually go "backwards" a little, and have some lighter workouts. It should work to my advantage with the leg. Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays are now two-a-days (like Coyote football in the day, holla!) - swimming bright and early in the AM (I have never been an AM guy for working out ever before, so this should be a grand experiment), and running in the afternoons. Tuesdays and Thursdays are on the bike, and Saturday (or Sunday, if I feel like switching them up) are my "long" days, with a bike followed by a run. For the first 2-3 months, I'm "training to train" - getting all systems organized for productive "train to race" training starting in June.

New compact crankset on the bike, giving me more gears for the hills in Wisconsin. I'll look forward to the workouts in Madison coming up to really appreciate it. Yesterday was remarkable in that, finally and at long last, I was outside on my bike. Pretty cold - 40 degrees, and with the wind on the bike bike I was bundled up, but man it felt so great. Just a short 10 mile out and back, to make sure all the new systems were in go status for the week and training ahead - new cables, new chain, new crankset, new fit, new tires, etc. etc. - and all seemed well. I can't wait for it to warm up so I can go out without arctic gear on, but man...there is NOTHING in the universe like being on a bike. I'll get pics up of the refreshed Ol' Blue up soon.

So, much to come...talk of power meters and measurements on the bike, of form and technique in the water and on the run, and where all things go from here. For now, I'm off to pack up my swim gear for the AM and head to bed - still reeling from another brilliant Sopranos. Soon!