Triathlete In Training: Journal Entry #3

author : Terese Luikens
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Over this next month I will be learning more about my bike each time I take it out to ride. I want to take full advantage of what it has to offer.

By Terese Luikens
Journal Entry #3 for the month of October 2006 

 

My training has become part of my daily routine and I have been enjoying the addition of biking and swimming to my regular life of fitness much more than I thought I would.


I had a pleasurable ride this last weekend on my new bike. The morning was windless, the sky was just turning pink with the sunrise, and the traffic was sparse on the road.


With a new bike comes a whole new way of riding! My 7.5 FX Trek has thinner tires, quieter brakes, less weight, and easier gear-shifts. And when I am finished with my ride, I do not feel as though I had to work quite as hard at pedaling as I had to with my 15-year-old Rincon.


Over this next month I will be learning more about my bike each time I take it out to ride. I want to take full advantage of what it has to offer.


During October I swam about three times a week and I feel as though my endurance has improved. I began swimming six sets of four 25- meter laps with a 60- second break in between the sets. Now I swim four sets of six with a 60- second rest in between sets.
I swim freestyle down and breaststroke back. It is a push for me to swim 50 meters of freestyle at this point in time, but my goal is to eventually swim all 24 laps freestyle. As long as I do not compare myself with any of the other swimmers who are doing laps at the same time, I am encouraged with my progress.


I went online to check the status of registration for the triathlon that I am working toward, and as of October 11 they were full. I had a hard time believing this and wondered if the dates were wrong. I put in a phone call and while I waited to hear back from them I went online and searched for another race to enter.  The nearest one would be in Seattle and I reasoned that I could make the trip if I absolutely had to, but I would rather stay local.  The return phone call confirmed that the race was full for July 2007 but that they would also be sponsoring another one in August 2007. Registration for that one will begin in February. I will be online February 1 to register. This is quite a popular race and I do not want to miss registration a second time!


I checked the swimming, biking, and running times for my division from last year’s race. I will have to complete my swim in less than 30 minutes, my bike ride in less than an hour and my run in less than 40 minutes if I want to meet my goal of not coming in last in my division.


“Once imagined dreams become possible.” Mary Pipher

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date: November 6, 2006

Terese Luikens