Triathlon Training - Week 15

It's so soon! Next Sunday.

Here's how triathlon training went for the week:

Monday:

Goal: Rest/Drive 14 hours

Accomplished: Katie, her HLP Jessica and I did the 14 hour drive from Seattle to Lake Taco in one shot. It was a long drive

Tuesday:

Goal: Swim 18, Bike 37

Accomplished: Bike 105. I know I'm supposed to be cutting back before the triathlon, but with the epic road trip, I only got in one workout the previous week, and I was feeling antsy for a nice long ride. I rode Powerline Trail, and like usual, I spent the first half mile cursing myself for picking it due to the deep sand and short but steep uphills, but then things smoothed out and I cruised past the spot where I usually turn around and found out that the trail gets even better! Then I cursed myself for not riding the whole thing all summer.

Wednesday:

Goal: 50 minute bike, 18 minute run

Accomplished: 27 minute run, 25 minute open water swim. I had a bike/run brick on the schedule, but when Katie and Reina wanted to go for an open water swim, I changed my plans. I love open water swimming, but going by myself is always a little nerve wracking, due to the dudebros on jet skis and Tahoe Tessie (Nessie's cousin). I even managed to get in a run before I met Katie and Reina for our swim!

Thursday:

Goal: 31 minute swim swim

Accomplished: 25 minute open water swim, 45 minute bike. Katie and I met up for another open water swim, and I made it into a brick with a 9 ish mile bike ride afterward. I practiced swimming and biking in my tri shorts, and I love them! Still need to try running though.

Friday:

Goal: 62 minute bike

Accomplished: 20 minute run. With a Deadwinter Carpenters show on Friday at my favorite bar and a beer/bluegrass/camping wedding on Saturday, I knew there was a pretty good chance I wouldn't get any workouts in this weekend, so I squeezed in a run while my laundry was going at the laundromat. I need to multi-task like this more often.

Saturday:

Goal: Rest Day

Accomplished: Rode my bike to get bagels, ate bagels, ate Cheeze-its, attended an awesome wedding, danced, partied until 7 am

Sunday:

Goal: 31 minute run

Accomplished: Ha ha. Watched football, watched the True Blood finale, ate greasy Chinese food, ate more Cheeze-its

Trail Brick and yet another bike

The last bike in my bike flock finally arrived and is all put together:

My road bike, stylish and triathlon ready. Now I just have to remember how to use clip on pedals and ride a road bike.

My complete bike flock, in my messy room.

Instead of taking my newly put together road bike out for a spin, I decided to do a Trail Brick. I drove my mountain bike up to the trailhead of Powerline Trail and rode for about 40 minutes.

Last time I rode Powerline, this bridge was submerged by a few inches of water, and I got wet feet crossing it.

I guess the water levels are finally going down. Maybe we'll actually have beaches sometime this summer. The "beach" by my house is just water up to the concrete barrier at this point.

While Powerline Trail has gorgeous views of Desolation Wilderness, it's not my favorite mountain bike trail to ride, which I never seem to remember until I am actually riding on it.

I stowed my bike back in my car, and headed out on a trail run. This was my first time running with my hydration pack. Since I only ran/hiked for about 40 minutes, I didn't really need it, but I had forgotten another way to store my car keys. Once I got the straps adjusted right, running with the pack wasn't too bad at all.

My legs definitely felt like bricks for the first 8 or so minutes of my run. I ran for about 25 minutes, with a couple of walking breaks. Then I walked back to my car for a nice cool down. I timed it perfectly- it wasn't too hot during the run, but I made it out of the woods before the mosquitoes got bad.

My new running shoes arrived, and, while I've walked around in them some, this was the first run I did. They're Saucony Kinvaras and they're definitely more minimalist than my previous shoes. I'm hoping that by strengthening my muscles instead of relying on insoles and cushion-y shoes, I can build up to higher mileage than I've been able to do in the past. Also, they are caution sign yellow-green, which I love.

I got so excited when I finished and saw that someone had left behind a free post-workout beverage for me to enjoy.

Unfortunately, it was a trick, and the PBR can was empty, despite looking unopened, and I had to stick with water, sadly.

All in all, it was a great first brick of my training season!

It's about damn time

I finally put pedals on my new bike and took it out. I know, I know...it's been weeks since I got it.

I get nervous about new things.

Since I was worried about how heavy this bike is compared to my hardtail that I'm used do, I decided to ease into it, and drove up to the Powerline trail head.

Hauling this thing around cemented my resolution to get a rack for Strawberry. Lifting that bike into the back of my CRV was not fun after swimming in the morning.

I pedaled/pushed my way up the first incline, and was greeted with this view:

I could even see a sliver of Lake Taco in this one:

Initially, this ride was pretty miserable, due to deep sand, unexpected mud and an unfamiliar bike. I'm glad I pressed through though, because it got awesome.

I got used to the new bike, and reveled in how smooth the suspension was! While it's definitely heavier than my hard tail, I was impressed by how well it climbed.

It turns out that when I'd been riding "Powerline" in the past, I was actually spending a good amount of time on a different trail (maybe Cedar?). This time, on my way back, I followed the signs correctly and rode the actual Powerline Trail. It ended up being even more fun that the one I usually ride. I even hit some steeper stuff, that I think I'd normally be too chicken to try.

All in all, it was a great first ride on my new bike! I even managed to get a tiny bit muddy.

Powerline Trail

After working all day Saturday (urgh, board meetings) and being scared off by a possible thunderstorm on Sunday, yesterday I was ready for a ride!

I headed up (and up and up and up) Ski Run boulevard to the trail head. After a quick push up a short sandy hill, I was greeted by the gorgeous views of Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe.

The first part of the trail is mostly loose rocks and deepish sand- not my favorite material to ride on. I miss the hero dirt of the PNW. The trail pretty quickly turns into dirt single track, barely rooty or rocky in just a few places.

The very beginning area has some more technical rock features off of the main trail. These features are definitely above my skill level, but there were a few I'm planning on trying out.

I only had my hard tail this time, but when I finally get pedals for my new bike, I plan on bringing it (and my full face helmet - safety first!) and working on my technical skills.

This area would also be a great place to run. I haven't really run all month, because I am so excited that I can finally bike, but I need to get going on that again. At least I am keeping up on my weightlifting!