After completing the first 2 weeks of triathlon training, i’m feeling pretty good. I actually haven’t posted here since I started the training, so I guess i’m not doing a good job of posting on my progress .. oh well. So far, the workouts aren’t anything worse than I was used to during both marathon training or when I was conditioning in December and January, so i’m thankful I did what I did. I’m getting in 3 swim workouts, 2 cycling workouts and 2 running workouts and then intense circuit training once a week. I have a day of strength training in there also and even managed to mix in a boot camp session today .. I kind of miss doing boot camp on Mondays, but it just doesn’t fit my schedule anymore. I plan to do the every 2-3 week session though and if possible, maybe do a double session on Wednesdays, but we’ll have to see.

My primary focus has moved away from the swimming portion and is now focusing on the bike. I’ve got the bike all prepped up for the first nice days we get so I can get out on the road. The biggest struggle is getting used to the clipless pedals .. yeah, I don’t understand why pedals that clip are called clipless pedals.. but either way, I’ve got the tension set down real low and intend to get out and practice clipping in and out just around the block here before heading out too far. From most of the articles I read, I can plan on wiping out at least a couple times using these pedals, but its how you learn. I still have to get a new pump and the bike rack, but there is no hurry, the first race of the year isn’t until April 9th…

Speaking of that, I officially signed up for the Doylestown Duathlon which is just a short 8 weeks away .. I’ve decided I need to adjust my training to compensate for being able to run, then cycle and then run again. Most of my run training and bike training has been after swimming, and since there is no swim in this first race, I have to get some brick workouts scheduled (bike transition into run).. and then I have to start to practice the transition from run to bike, then bike to run just like I have to practice the swim to bike to run transitions in late April in prep for May 21st…. there is lots to do, but i’m enjoying it so far.

I did knock off a 10K last weekend though, the Super Bowl 10K .. they changed the course at the last minutes and it ended up being a brutal assault of hills. We did 2 5K loops instead of an out and back .. I did finish in around 50 minutes, which I didn’t think was too bad since I have only been running 10-15 miles a week these days .. its all the cross-training, strength training and circuit work I think that has helped me be a better runner. Speaking of circuit work, I just realized that Tuesday’s circuit workout is going to be an assault on our senses yet again … Stacey takes us to the indoor track and we do 1-2 minute intervals of “some crazy core work” mixed with a sprint around the track .. and then repeat. Last time we did 15-20 intervals and then wrapped it up with 25 stairclimbs … ugh, Tuesday will be a long day after that if its the same thing (which she implied it will be).

Just 35 days until spring … we’ll hit 50 degrees here southeast Pennsylvania this week, so it will feel like spring even though its not. I’m hopeful for no more snow or ice, but one can only hope.