6.7.16 Tuesday Training!

Up early here too due to long workout.

About 4:50 AM--1:05 trainer ride plus getting off and doing a bunch of squats and lunges. Supposed to give me a power butt, I guess! More like a sore butt! (Although not as sore as last week--that could change after tomorrow's FTP intervals.)

4:30 PM--Easy 45 minute run around school fields in light rain--very pleasant.

I do a lot of my run training with heart rate. (Well, I did before my Garmin run watch dorked out--need a new one. The distance/pace function only works about 20% of the time and I've been keeping it on with a twist tie since the strap broke!) The problem with HR is that a lot of variables affect it. Racing HR is almost always higher than training HR at the same effort level, probably due to adrenaline. Then there's the effects of caffeine (small but real), hydration levels (big), and heat (huge). My HR will often be 10 BPM higher at the same pace/effort level than when doing it at home in Oregon (where it's probably 20-30 degrees cooler.) I've also had situations, particularly on brick runs, where I'm supposed to stay in Zone 2 and it just won't stop drifting into Z3. For me at least, in that situation, walking will make it come down, but as soon as I start running, even at a slow jog, it goes right back up to low Z3. I'm just hot (thus the username!), and there's nothing to be done about it. If it's not life-threatening, I usually just keep running at a slower pace. If I walk, it will just take me longer to get home to the AC! My coach has also said to "tolerate" a slightly higher heart rate when training in extreme heat--unless you actually feel serious discomfort, there's no need to stop and walk just to get your HR in range.

In a race, honestly, I wouldn't care what my HR was doing. I never race with HR, because there are too many variables and I don't want to use it to hold myself back when I could go faster. But I have years and years of experience in pacing the run by effort in different conditions (though still occasionally screw up)--HR might be a valuable guide for someone who doesn't.

One hour trail run this morning, nice relaxing pace, best way to wake up!

This afternoon was swim day, not just for me, but it seems like the whole town was there. As a result I only got in about 1200 yards, 100 yards at a time. Every third one I did either a medley or breaststroke though. My butterfly feels good until I try to do more than a 50....

Since my workout got abruptly shortened (I forgot about the aquacize class that starts at 5:15), I didn't get a cooldown. So when I got home, I hopped on the old Schwinn 3 speed and rode a few miles each way to Walgreens to pick up a few items. It ended up being a bit over 4 miles roundtrip at a nice easy pace.

In a few weeks the triathlon I am going to do (as my first one) is going to start offering open water swim sessions so I only have to deal with this less than perfect lap swimming for a little while longer.

J White

I rode for 55 minutes and did intervals.

I agree with HR race HR is higher. I train with HR and adjust for races knowing its going to spike.

I would go ahead and do the oly. You have been training and are probably in better shape than you realize. Also the heat and humidity in San Antonio will keep you in shape. Jamie might even know some good areas to run since you will be in his neck of the woods.

BTW Naked cannon balls are the norm in Texas!!!