WEEK 2 – January 4, 2016 – January 10, 2016
Wrapping up Week 2 with a positive feeling. I missed swimming in Week 1 due to the high schools being closed for winter break, so two swims were looming large this week. I say looming because I had not swam since last September, and I knew that Fink’s Be Iron Fit program is somewhat swim heavy at the start. For a plan that includes 30 minute easy bikes and 15 minute runs early in the plan, to start off with 2500 yards of swimming seems like a lot of swimming to me.
I did get a little surprise when I got to the high school. I parked in the back by the aquatic center like I had done in the past, and found the doors locked with a note saying all swimmers have to enter through the main school doors, which are on the other side of the building. New security measures I assumed, but I think in reality it is a cost saving move, as the secretary position no longer exists at the pool. As I walked in and gave my name, the office lady asked if I knew how to get to the pool. I admitted that I was from the Class of 1982, but we didn’t have a pool or field house when I went here! I said I think I can find it, but what I wasn’t ready for was the hoard of students about to hit the hallways during a passing hour. I felt like a dinosaur wandering the halls to the pool.
The first swim was tough, but I got through it. My shoulders were definitely trying to figure out what the heck I was trying to pull, and by the end of the evening I wasn’t sure if I could lift my arms over my head. On Thursday, I followed up with another 2500 yard effort, but this one had some 300, and 200 yard workouts, instead of the 25 yard repeats from Tuesday. I tried a new drill, the Fists drill, in which you swim with closed fists to ensure that you are using your arms to help pull water. I feel like I was moving through the water pretty efficiently.
Running and cycling were pretty typical, and I’m still doing at least a couple of miles running even if the plan doesn’t have a run scheduled. I’m still on a running streak, and so far I haven’t had a significant reason to stop or insert a full day of rest from running.
Saturday called for 1.5 hours of riding. Doing that much on the trainer is an effort for me, as I despise both the “drainer” and the “dreadmill.” However, I am glad that I am fortunate to have those two options. But we had a slight warm up in temps this week, and by Saturday the snow had melted and it was wet, but warm enough for me to ride outside. I donned a pair of socks, with another calf-length sock over it, some tri shorts, my running tights over that, a tri top, two more long sleeve layers, some arm warmers, a jacket, a neck warmer, a stocking cap, a thin glove covered with my thick gloves, and some booties over my shoes and I was set. Seems like a lot, but it really was all thin layered tech gear. I was plenty warm. Glad I rode outside, because that evening it snowed about an inch and the temps dropped to the low teens. Might be the last outdoor ride for a while.
My training buddies kept me laughing throughout the week with numerous texts. We didn’t communicate all that much last time, so I am really finding it to be fun and encouraging this time around. We are so competitive that it seems like we are all trying to be the first done with the workout. It sure is keeping the training fun.
WEEK 2 TOTALS:
Swims: 2, 5000 yards, 2 hours
Bikes: 3 total, 2.5 hours, approx. 45 miles
Runs: 7 total, 3.6 hours, approx. 28 miles
an amazing run 
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