So boot camp is over, now what? I have my training plan mapped out, but will I really follow it on my own? The answer: no. I'm going to get in the pool, swim a few laps, and say "that's good." I will get on the bike, ride 15 miles (all Silver Comet - no hills) and say "that's enough for today." And I will go out for a run, decide it is too hot and finish many miles too soon.
So, I joined the Atlanta Triathlon Club. The club has training schedules for all of the Ironman and Half Ironman Races as well as group workouts every day. I am much more likely to stick to the plan with a support group.
Monday Night Swim
I show up at Washington Park Natatorium (an inner city pool) and i have no idea where I am going. I check in at the front desk and head down to the locker room. After I get ready, I head out to the pool deck. There are about 20 plus people on the deck and I don't know anyone! I introduced myself to the coaches and they explained how the swim works.
There are 3 groups: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I knew I would be in the advanced group eventually, but I really haven't been in the water in a long time. I have gone in and swam a few laps here and there, but I haven't done a workout in about 15 years! How am I going to manage in the advanced group? I started warm up in a lane that turned out to be the intermediate group and I knew within a few laps that I needed to be in the advanced group. I hopped over into one of the advanced lanes, and it was much better.
For the main set, we did 100s and 200s. For the 200s, we had to keep the same pace as the 100s. I was definitely feeling the fact that I hadn't been in the water in so long. My arms felt like dead weight during the 200s! We also did a set of 50s, building up to a sprint. The 50s were much better. It felt good to push myself in the water again.
After the cool down, I headed to the locker room to change. I talked to a few of the girls as well. Everyone was nice and welcomed me to the team. So far, I'm glad I signed up for the club.
Thursday Night Bike
I left my office at 5:00PM for a 6:15PM wheels down at Stone Mountain. The traffic was so bad, I didn't even get to the parking lot until 6:20. I had never been there and I didn't know anyone, so I was getting a little worried. As I started riding out of the lot, I saw a girl in ATC (Atlanta Tri Club) shorts, and I stopped her and asked if I could follow her in. (We were parked in a free parking lot about a 1/2 mile away from the park.)
When we got to the park, one of the coaches was showing another member how to change a flat tire. He asked if I had ever changed a flat before. I mentioned that I am new, and know nothing about biking, so he suggested I stay with them. He took all the air out of my front tire to make it flat. He then showed me how to remove the tube from the tire and put a new one in. After we filled the tire from the CO2 cartridge, I put the wheel back and I was ready to roll.
By this time, the rest of the group had already done a 5 mile lap around the mountain as well as hill repeats on one of the larger hills. I set out with 2 laps around the park and I was good for the day. There were only about 8 bikers, but I felt a little intimidated. Everyone that was there was definitely an experienced biker, whereas I have no clue what I am doing. They were all certainly nice and friendly and welcomed me to the club. Someone didn't clip out and actually fell over, so it made me feel better that even the vets fall on the bike too!
Running in DC
I was in DC for a few days and unable to participate in the ATC workouts, so I did my best to keep on track. I set off to the Washington Monument and ran the National Mall to the Capital and back. The first part of the run was great, but it was hot and I wasn't very hydrated. I only did about 2.5 miles because I decided it was hot, I was tired, and I was just done. I walked back to the hotel, happy I was able to get some running in.
A few days later, we were staying in Arlington, so I ran from the hotel to the Iwo Jima memorial and back. This was only about a 2 mile route. Once again, it was hot, and I wasn't very hydrated. The wine I had the night before didn't help either! I walked a little bit, but once again, I was thrilled to get out and run.
Wednesday Night Spin
I headed out to Adamsville Natatorium for the spin class. Once again, I walk in, and have no idea where I am going. I check in at the front desk, and they direct me to the spin room. There are about 5 people in the room. I introduce myself to the instructor and let her know that I am new and haven't been on these spin bikes. She helped me get the bike set up. I have been to so many spin classes, but it has been a while, so it took me a little while to get used to the bike. I am now used to riding an actual bike that moves!
We did a few hills and a few sprints with an endurance ride mixed in. I like the spin bikes, because when I am pushing hard, I just shut my eyes and put my head down. I need to get out of that habit, because I can't do that when I am on the bike! I pushed myself hard, but in the end, it was a good class.
Thursday Night Bike
I made sure to leave enough time to get to Columns Drive for the start of the Thursday night bike this time. At this point, I have started to recognize a few faces, but I still don't really know anyone. There was another girl there who was about at my speed, so I felt a little better about being with all of the experienced, fast bikers. Columns Drive is a flat 5 mile out and back course. We rode out 2.5 miles and then proceeded to do 5 minutes all out and 4 minutes easy 5 times. I was unable to do the 5 minutes all out, but I pushed hard. On the 4 minute sections, I rode nice and easy, just going through the motions with my legs. I ended up doing the loop 3 times, so I was able to get 15 miles in. I still feel like a beginner, but some of the veterans are giving me encouragement along the way, so it helps.
Sunday Long Bike
This bike was about an hour away. There were only 8 people there, including the coach. Typically there are at least 20 people and they break the groups up into groups according to speed and distance. Everyone that was at the ride was experienced and planning on riding at least 39 miles. My longest ride is just over an hour and 15 miles. I was planning on riding for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Robert, the head bike coach stayed with me as we started, giving me some pointers along the way. He really helped me with my shifting, explaining when I should shift going up and down hills. It made a huge difference in my ride. At 10 miles, we stopped at a rec center and met up with the rest of the group who had gone ahead. He asked how I was doing, and I said I was fine to keep going. As we continued, I start to think, how am I going to get back!
We get to about 16 or so miles and we turn around and head for home. I am still doing ok, and I feel fairly confident on the bike. I am not crazy about the fact that I am riding on a road with traffic, but Robert was next to me close to the cars as they passed and there wasn't much traffic this far out.
As we got to 27 miles or so, I started to slow and get tired. At this point, my legs are moving, but the bike isn't moving very fast; even on the flat ground! All of the sudden, I was told to focus on moving in a straight line and there is a hand on my back pushing my up a hill! It certainly helped. We did this on and off for the next 5 or so miles. At one point Robert got in front of me so I could draft. This made such a difference in the effort I had to put forth to keep moving.
We finally made it back to the parking lot and the guys asked how I did. I definitely got some encouragement from them. I'm so proud of myself for getting 33 miles in this early in the game. I do think I went a little overboard and should have asked to turn around for a total of 25 or so. I may have been able to make it the entire way without assistance. This does give me some confidence moving forward that I will actually be able to do this.
So, I joined the Atlanta Triathlon Club. The club has training schedules for all of the Ironman and Half Ironman Races as well as group workouts every day. I am much more likely to stick to the plan with a support group.
Monday Night Swim
I show up at Washington Park Natatorium (an inner city pool) and i have no idea where I am going. I check in at the front desk and head down to the locker room. After I get ready, I head out to the pool deck. There are about 20 plus people on the deck and I don't know anyone! I introduced myself to the coaches and they explained how the swim works.
There are 3 groups: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I knew I would be in the advanced group eventually, but I really haven't been in the water in a long time. I have gone in and swam a few laps here and there, but I haven't done a workout in about 15 years! How am I going to manage in the advanced group? I started warm up in a lane that turned out to be the intermediate group and I knew within a few laps that I needed to be in the advanced group. I hopped over into one of the advanced lanes, and it was much better.
For the main set, we did 100s and 200s. For the 200s, we had to keep the same pace as the 100s. I was definitely feeling the fact that I hadn't been in the water in so long. My arms felt like dead weight during the 200s! We also did a set of 50s, building up to a sprint. The 50s were much better. It felt good to push myself in the water again.
After the cool down, I headed to the locker room to change. I talked to a few of the girls as well. Everyone was nice and welcomed me to the team. So far, I'm glad I signed up for the club.
Thursday Night Bike
I left my office at 5:00PM for a 6:15PM wheels down at Stone Mountain. The traffic was so bad, I didn't even get to the parking lot until 6:20. I had never been there and I didn't know anyone, so I was getting a little worried. As I started riding out of the lot, I saw a girl in ATC (Atlanta Tri Club) shorts, and I stopped her and asked if I could follow her in. (We were parked in a free parking lot about a 1/2 mile away from the park.)
When we got to the park, one of the coaches was showing another member how to change a flat tire. He asked if I had ever changed a flat before. I mentioned that I am new, and know nothing about biking, so he suggested I stay with them. He took all the air out of my front tire to make it flat. He then showed me how to remove the tube from the tire and put a new one in. After we filled the tire from the CO2 cartridge, I put the wheel back and I was ready to roll.
By this time, the rest of the group had already done a 5 mile lap around the mountain as well as hill repeats on one of the larger hills. I set out with 2 laps around the park and I was good for the day. There were only about 8 bikers, but I felt a little intimidated. Everyone that was there was definitely an experienced biker, whereas I have no clue what I am doing. They were all certainly nice and friendly and welcomed me to the club. Someone didn't clip out and actually fell over, so it made me feel better that even the vets fall on the bike too!
Running in DC
I was in DC for a few days and unable to participate in the ATC workouts, so I did my best to keep on track. I set off to the Washington Monument and ran the National Mall to the Capital and back. The first part of the run was great, but it was hot and I wasn't very hydrated. I only did about 2.5 miles because I decided it was hot, I was tired, and I was just done. I walked back to the hotel, happy I was able to get some running in.
A few days later, we were staying in Arlington, so I ran from the hotel to the Iwo Jima memorial and back. This was only about a 2 mile route. Once again, it was hot, and I wasn't very hydrated. The wine I had the night before didn't help either! I walked a little bit, but once again, I was thrilled to get out and run.
Wednesday Night Spin
I headed out to Adamsville Natatorium for the spin class. Once again, I walk in, and have no idea where I am going. I check in at the front desk, and they direct me to the spin room. There are about 5 people in the room. I introduce myself to the instructor and let her know that I am new and haven't been on these spin bikes. She helped me get the bike set up. I have been to so many spin classes, but it has been a while, so it took me a little while to get used to the bike. I am now used to riding an actual bike that moves!
We did a few hills and a few sprints with an endurance ride mixed in. I like the spin bikes, because when I am pushing hard, I just shut my eyes and put my head down. I need to get out of that habit, because I can't do that when I am on the bike! I pushed myself hard, but in the end, it was a good class.
Thursday Night Bike
I made sure to leave enough time to get to Columns Drive for the start of the Thursday night bike this time. At this point, I have started to recognize a few faces, but I still don't really know anyone. There was another girl there who was about at my speed, so I felt a little better about being with all of the experienced, fast bikers. Columns Drive is a flat 5 mile out and back course. We rode out 2.5 miles and then proceeded to do 5 minutes all out and 4 minutes easy 5 times. I was unable to do the 5 minutes all out, but I pushed hard. On the 4 minute sections, I rode nice and easy, just going through the motions with my legs. I ended up doing the loop 3 times, so I was able to get 15 miles in. I still feel like a beginner, but some of the veterans are giving me encouragement along the way, so it helps.
Sunday Long Bike
This bike was about an hour away. There were only 8 people there, including the coach. Typically there are at least 20 people and they break the groups up into groups according to speed and distance. Everyone that was at the ride was experienced and planning on riding at least 39 miles. My longest ride is just over an hour and 15 miles. I was planning on riding for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Robert, the head bike coach stayed with me as we started, giving me some pointers along the way. He really helped me with my shifting, explaining when I should shift going up and down hills. It made a huge difference in my ride. At 10 miles, we stopped at a rec center and met up with the rest of the group who had gone ahead. He asked how I was doing, and I said I was fine to keep going. As we continued, I start to think, how am I going to get back!
We get to about 16 or so miles and we turn around and head for home. I am still doing ok, and I feel fairly confident on the bike. I am not crazy about the fact that I am riding on a road with traffic, but Robert was next to me close to the cars as they passed and there wasn't much traffic this far out.
As we got to 27 miles or so, I started to slow and get tired. At this point, my legs are moving, but the bike isn't moving very fast; even on the flat ground! All of the sudden, I was told to focus on moving in a straight line and there is a hand on my back pushing my up a hill! It certainly helped. We did this on and off for the next 5 or so miles. At one point Robert got in front of me so I could draft. This made such a difference in the effort I had to put forth to keep moving.
We finally made it back to the parking lot and the guys asked how I did. I definitely got some encouragement from them. I'm so proud of myself for getting 33 miles in this early in the game. I do think I went a little overboard and should have asked to turn around for a total of 25 or so. I may have been able to make it the entire way without assistance. This does give me some confidence moving forward that I will actually be able to do this.
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."
- Muhammad Ali
Comments
Post a Comment