Progress

I've had a very decent week of training - my first week of triathlon training for the season. I've been in the pool twice this week - and again tomorrow - and while I'm slow as hell my technique hasn't gone out the window too terribly, so I'm happy about that. Tuesday I was out for an inaugural ride on Fyr - about 17 miles with that typical nasty Minnesota headwind, only this time it was coming from the south, when it usually comes from the north. Anyway, I cannot tell you how great it felt to be back on a bike. Any bike. The bike especially does something for my soul. I love being out there, and am glad that the weather's been decent enough this week where I was able to enjoy the ride (in fact, yesterday after my swim I ran in shorts! Crazy!). I'm due for 2 hours on the bike on Sunday, but we're apparently destined for some kind of impressive storm, so we'll see. I think it would be pleasing to ride around in a storm. That would be dope.

Then today, I had a 12 mile run - moving my long runs now from the weekend to mid-week. Recap - just 11 days ago I had an 11 miler that was UG. LY. I finished with a 10:02 pace, but I had to work really, really hard for it, and walked twice - as a matter of survival, not of strategy. Today's 12 Miler? Awesome. I felt great all day, and finished with a sub-10:00 pace, at 9:53. I walked once to eat - strategy - and had no drama. And I stayed consistent all day, hovering right around a 10:00 pace, which is right where I wanted to be. Felt good to feel good. For the first time all season I felt like an athlete, and not some out-of-shape hack. Add to it that my nutrition is locking in, and just like that I'm feeling like I want to be feeling. Not that I don't have a long way to go, I'm just saying that at this early point in the season, life is good.

I'll keep you posted on the weekend - it's not supposed to be too cold, but windy, maybe rainy, and then probably snowy. Which might be a hella good time. Or, maybe not. We shall see.