Between two worlds

This Sunday finds me in a strange place, and not one I'm particularly fond of. I'm at once strong and weak. Building up and falling apart. Really happy and really cranky. Is this what I signed up for?

My swimming continues to soar (see below). Biking, I love more than ever. And running? Well...UGH. Whoever thought running was a good idea? And fun?! At this moment, you couldn't convince me that there's a more inane activity than running. Try. 

I 86-ed all running workouts this week. First it was the hip muscle that reared its ugly head again. Once that healed, my chronic left knee canceled my 10-mile run this morning. I know it's only early March and I have lots of time to run. And yet, before I know it, it will be late May and time will be running out.

Yes, there is good news from the week. First, let me share my weekly totals.

Total time = 11:00
Total mileage = 77.65
Swim = 2:55, 4.65 miles
Bike = 5:10, 73 miles
Run = 0, 0
Other = 2:55

So, the good news? Two things. My fellow Coeur d'Alene trainees and I rode the simulated bike course again this Saturday. This time we rode one loop of the entire course--56 miles. In one word: ***-kicker. Despite some setbacks due to above-mentioned knee issues, and the fact that this simulation is really HARD, I finished strong and rode the entire 56 miles. Based on my performance, I should have no problem meeting my bike time goal in the actual race.

The second success this week came today in the pool. I captured some time trials, to set a sort-of baseline of performance at this point in the season. My mom was my time-keeper. Thanks a million, Mom!! :-) I swam a 200-meter set (four laps in the pool) and then an 800-meter set (a half-mile) after a short rest. Indulge me the details. Mom timed my 200m swim as a whole, then timed my 800m swim both as a whole and in 50m splits. Here's the point: I'm aiming for not just a good overall time, but also a consistent pace throughout the entire 800 meters. So, if I'm doing it right, each lap's time should be within a few seconds of each other.

And that's exactly what happened. First, the 200m time: it was 8 seconds shorter than this time last year. Which is huge for me--to shave that much time off means great gains.

As for the 800m time? I was a whole minute (plus 4 seconds, to put a fine point on it) faster than my time last year!! I know I'm a better swimmer now, but I didn't expect that much improvement. And better yet--my time per lap was very consistent...and my last lap was one of my fastest for the whole set. As with my cycling, if I can maintain this performance in the race, I also will beat my swim time goal.

I head into this coming week with one major goal...and I know my friend Ali is reading this so she'll appreciate that I will definitely be calling her MAT to get some attention paid to this left knee. I'm determined to get my running moving in the same direction as my swimming and biking.

Very soon, goshdarnit, I WILL report here some running successes.