Bike Plus Run Makes For a Hearty Brick Lunch

Phew. What a day.

To start, today I finally got my butt out to the bike trail I've heard so much about. After riding to a gas station to fill up the tires, we finally snaked our way around to the trail. It starts with a memorial (made of bike parts) for 6 people who were involved in a bike accident in 1996. The group had been instrumental about getting the bike trail set up and two of the six died in the crash. Sad. From there, the trail begins with obvious, heartbreaking signs of homelessness. In time it crosses less and less main roads and signs of wildlife and peace emerge. We were able to ride to a lookout where wild turkeys were about. As I delicately and slowly rode towards them, they still appeared scared and ran all funny. We finally got to the outlook it was a gorgeous vast open part of Paines' Prairie where turkeys mulled around little watering holes. Good times. Also along the trail for wildlife were a snake (kind of a fatty which was gave me the eebie jeebies), a squirrel (which kept faking me out as to whether he was going to dart in front of me or not) and ducks and turtles hanging out in little ponds. Lovely. The entire trip was about 2 hours but the real "meat" of it was about an hour and a half. I'll take it. It wasn't fast by any means, but it felt great to get a solid ride out there (time-wise) and to work again at feeling comfortable on the bike. This was the most I have ridden around people and traffic, and I survived so that's a good start. :) Perhaps the best part was that John enjoyed himself too and wants to go again tomorrow. Yay.

On the ride home I knew I should try to get a little run in there to get used to transitioning from one sport to the next. Since Kate had talked about how challenging this is, I knew I ought to make it a priority. So I brought the bike in, threw on a baseball hat, grabbed the ole iPod (which I THANKFULLY found yesterday) and took off. On the way home I had decided 5 minutes would be fine if it was excruciating, but 10 would be suitable in general. I started off really really slowly, remembering that Kate's friend who does many triathlons had recommended a slow start since the legs need to slowly adjust to the new movement. Almost immediately I crossed paths with a man who pumped his fists and called out "Lookin' good, kid!" I love the encouragement. :) So I ran and ran and kept it slow but steady. I prefer to think of it as chugging along. The little train that could maybe. Just keep going. And I felt OK. Well, sure, I could see what Kate was saying. My leg muscles felt 3/4 of the regular length, it was like running on tightened springs. I think the advice to start slow saved me. I just kept it small, steady, and easy. I decided to go for 20 minutes. I even toyed with 30 but decided it would be better to train tomorrow instead of kill myself today. My legs didn't quite loosen and lengthen much with time, but I just focused on staying steady and running. "The race isn't about perfect muscles," I told myself, "It's about finishing and running for a good cause."

I got home and stretched, pleased that I had spent about 1 hour, 50 minutes with solid exercise. Much like the upcoming race. Lovely. Now to just keep it up, work for speed, work harder, work for consistency. Yes. But now, well now I am guzzling water, covered in the sweet salty smell of sweat, and needing a shower and some R&R. 'Till next time...

xoxo,
K