7 Days And Counting
Posted by Admin on July 17, 2011 in Training
This morning, I met up with one of my best friends, Brad, to do our first training session together in preparation for his first triathlon in August. He’s been around my triathlon world for many years now having heard me talk about it ad nauseam, having seen me in various events, and having been witness to my ridiculous training sessions including a 16 mile run in the Las Vegas desert after a night of debauchery, an 18 miler in Columbus, Ohio after another night of drinking, and a ton of other craziness.
We started off with a pool session as that’s the area where new triathletes need the most direction. In swimming, unlike cycling and running, you don’t get better by doing more of it. Technique improvement is the primary way in which an athlete gets better and faster. We did a few drills together and he improved quickly. We then transitioned to a 40 minute run and ran it easily, with another few drills mixed in.
It was so great to see Brad’s enthusiasm as he enters this new world. He’s tremendously athletic and I’m certain he’ll have a great experience on race day. As I think back to my first race 11 years ago, I didn’t have anyone to show me the ropes and I didn’t know if I’d like the experience. For me, it was to do one triathlon and for it to be a sentinel event. Turns out, I had a terrible first race and didn’t enjoy myself at all… until it was over and I had time to reflect. I figured that I’d try another one to validate the first one, and then decided on a third, and a fourth, and then finished my first triathlon season with four triathlon finishes and with the confirmation that I had gotten the bug.
I don’t know if Brad will get the bug too, but he’s certainly on his way. What I can’t help but do however is reflect back on the 84 triathlon finishes under my belt as I contemplate number 85 which also happens to coincide with my third Ironman. I’m as excited about this huge event in my life as I was with my first triathlon. The kind of nerves that I’ll have will be different, but it will be thrilling nonetheless.
I did feel good this morning in the short training sessions I did with Brad. I feel like I have plenty of energy, my legs feel great, and I am in good spirits. All the ingredients seem to be in place. Now the trick is to keep this feeling going for the next seven days. Oh man, I am getting pumped!
P.S. New photos are now loaded onto the pics page.
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