First practice

This is an indoor triathlon.  Some of you have expressed concern because of my biking track record.  No worries, I will be on a spin bike! 

So Friday I decided to do the whole thing on my own to make sure I could actually do it.  I was super excited!  (Also super excited that I actually could fit it into my schedule!)

We get to pick the order in which we want to do the triathlon.  I choose run/bike/swim.  Why get wet first?  After a swim, my legs always feel like lead anyway, why would I subject myself to even more torture?!?  Even though we will only run 2.5 miles, that will definitely be my toughest stint, because of my knee problems.  Running is 2.5 miles, biking - 12, and swimming - 6 laps.  (A lap is down and back one time.)

I took off running, ipod inserted, towel on the side, treadmill set on 4.5 speed for the stubby leg warm-up light jog.  The gym was like a sauna, and something I do NOT enjoy is exercising in a hot environment.  I had my water though, and I paced myself.  After the first mile, my legs felt like lead.  I could feel the knee tenderness just a bit, and I tried to mentally block out the time.  I had increased my mph after the first couple minutes.  Usually 5-5.5 is very comfortable for me.  I played with increasing the speed to 6, but didn't want to do any more damage, so didn't leave it there for more than a few minutes.  By 2 miles, the legs were warm and there was no pain.  Because of increasing speed, the cardio was getting a bit challenging, I paced myself for the remaining half mile.  I was glad when that part was over.  Time:  28.24 - lousy.

Next came the bike.  All set to go to the spin room, I took off, tried the door - locked.  Asked the girl at the desk if I could get in - no dice.  Noone goes in unless there's a class.  Now HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PRACTICE ON THOSE BIKES IF I CAN'T GET ON THOSE BIKES?!?  Looks like I've gotta go back for a class now.  Instead, I took a stationery bike in the sauna - I mean gym.  It took me a few tries to get the seat where I wanted it, the straps adjusted, my form just right.  Actually, it took me about 20 minutes to do that.  I'm sure that affected my time.  The seat was very uncomfortable, and I missed my mountain bike!  By the second round of 20 minutes, I was focused, even going as fast as 130 RPMS and 16 mph!  Of course, by that time I was looking down, not forward, sweating buckets, just trying to get to the end of the uncomfortable seat!  Total time:  54:53.  Actually not bad for me, I've ridden 12 miles on my mountain and road bikes and it was always longer than that.

The swim will be the easiest part for me, as far as endurance.  A typical swim for me is anywhere from 16-22 laps, but never having been formally taught, I know I don't have good form.  I'm studying this now, and beginning tomorrow, hope to do some drills and techniques for better form and eventually, better time.  I'm not a fast swimmer, either.  I hadn't been in the pool for a couple of weeks, so the time was 10:30. 

Total time for my own personal Triathlon:  93:07.  I was tired and shaky, and won't go into the gory details of what happened later, but THRILLED to know I could do it!  And guess what - Saturday, I wasn't even sore, just muscle fatigued!  (I used that day to do upper body strength, it felt good!)