Swim: Bring It On!

As I’ve said many times through my race reports over the past season, my swim needs some serious attention.  As an Age-Grouper, it was always my weakness, but it never really held me back.  A decent swim, followed by a strong bike and run, was often enough to get on the Age-Group or Overall Amateur Podium.  While you can fake your way as an AG’er to a good finish, there is no way this works in the Pro Field where everyone is strong all-around and a weak swim is quickly exposed in a few ways.  Most importantly when you miss swimming with the main pack you are working harder than necessary in the water without the draft.  This means time lost in the water and extra energy spent.  Next, you also miss biking with the main pack.  Not only does this eliminate the minor, but still noticeable benefit of the legal paceline, you also lose the psychological benefit of riding next to your competition.  Again, working harder and going slower.  This scenario always left me off the back pack starting the run, and I was left trying to run my way up a couple of places. 

It Begins!

After a few weeks of recovery, its time to get moving again!  I’ve really enjoyed the break from the regimented training schedule, but after a few weeks off, I am really getting the itch to start training again.  I’m ready to go!  It’s funny how the body reacts to a rest period.  First I felt tired all the time as my body recovered.  Then I felt better physically, but not really ready mentally.  Now it’s been just over 4 weeks, and I can’t wait to start training again.  I feel that once I get the motivation and drive back, then I am ready.  I pay a lot of attention to my motivation level throughout the year and feel that it is one of the most important ways our body uses to communicate what is going on in there…and now that I got it back, I know I’m ready.