I was out on the "optional" workout on my schedule today and had a bunch of random thoughts kicking around that I thought I would share.
Optional? If your coach puts that on your schedule is it just a tease to see if you are a wimp and will skip it or is it to see if you are dumb enough to take the bait and do the workout? I am not a wimp, just dumb. However, an hour ride was just what I needed after being in the car for 2 1/2 hours.
How are we feeling? Katie and I have been discussing how we are holding up to the level of workouts that we have been doing. We are both feeling more fit. We both realize that our bodies are adapting to the stress and handling it better. Early in the season we would hang on for dear life hoping to make it to our rest day. We were very tired. Now, we still have fatigue but not nearly as bad, this is good! We laugh that our "rest" week hours would have scared us to death several months ago. Funny how "only" ten hours makes you feel rested.
Bodies of Ironmen? Haha! Not in the Cortopassi genes! We will never have the chiseled bodies of a lot of athletes, but our bodies are changing. A couple of weeks ago we approached, with dread, a recheck of our body fat. We had previously tested six months previous so we were hoping for some improvement. When I got there the lady wanted to know how my day was going. I told her it depended on my results! She was surprised the test held that much sway, if she only knew! I lost 4.5 pounds of fat and added about a pound of muscle, so that was good. The bad news. Still have 9+ pounds of fat to lose. We decided that Katie's test must have been wrong. It did not have the results she had hoped for but did show improvement.
How do we get all the workouts in? By developing the ability to maximize every moment of the day. I often am up before the sun to get one workout in and then do another after work. For me travel time takes up precious time so I try to minimize it as much as possible. Today I came back to Katie's house from Santa Cruz and jumped on my bike for a ride so that I would not lose time by coming home and then heading out again. Fortunately, our spouses are used to this now and just ask what we have today and when we will be home.
Unexpected expenses. My bike, my trusty steed, is showing the wear and tear of five seasons. Replace tires, $50 each. Replace chain, $50. It needs new bearings in the rear wheel. I have been uncomfortable in the saddle. Yesterday I found out that the padding is shot. Great! Now a new seat is in order. This if killing me.
The totals are climbing. Our yearly training totals are going up steadily and quickly. I think we have ridden half way across the country already and have run almost to Los Angeles!
Well, this has gone longer than I expected so I will wrap it up on a serious topic. One evening recently, Katie sent me a text that said "Jen is really trying to kill me with this workout". I have had those on my schedule as well. I told Anna about this and she wondered that maybe, with all the athletes that Coach Jen trains, maybe she is a SERIAL KILLER!!!!!!! Hmmm, makes one wonder.....................................
Ed
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