Summer Running

This summer's training runs have been more helter skelter than ever. I'm currently training for two triathlons in August- a women only sprint tri in Minneapolis and then a longer, Olympic distance tri in Maple Grove. So, I approached this summer with the attitude that I will run when I need to and focus on biking and swimming consistently.

This plan has sort of worked out. I've been running at least four days a week: two days of trail running workouts with my club and then two days of running with Washburn Cross Country Team as a new coach. This adds up to at least 20 miles of running. However, I have some beef with this schedule. Primarily, I don't get to run as much with Rachel or by my lonesome or with my other best running girlfriends. Thus, I've sneaked (snuck?) in some extra runs to accomplish this. Perhaps as a result (or due to the fact that I never recovered fully from the marathon), my left hip is creaky. I don't like it. It's not painful, it just takes me at least 45 minutes to warm up! I am hoping it is a just a little tendinitis and it will eventually work itself out.

In other news, I attended a race preview ride for the sprint tri at Nokomis Lake. Like I mentioned, it is all female triathlon. I was surprised at the race preview how competitive (okay, downright pushy) the other women were. Most of them were much older than me and more geared out. As soon as we started the ride, all of them scooted so they could be as close to the front of the line of bikes as possible. This seemed a little silly to me and I ended up just bringing in the rear, confident that tides would change come race day (meaning I will not come in last).

The course looks pretty simple with a couple sharp turns on the bike and a couple there and backs on the bike and the run routes. Both of the there and backs are short so I am not too worried about it. The swim course looks simple as well, just one u shaped loop. I think the biggest challenge for me will be the transition area circus. I've heard people put out balloons and bright towels to mark their area for easy finding. I will have to think of something fun to put up!

Monday Morning Swim

As a teacher, I have the luxury of ten empty weeks. Somehow, I manage to fill up seven of them pretty quickly with camping, coaching, traveling, paneling, and painting. Today, however, I spent Monday morning exactly the way I wish I could spend every Monday morning for the rest of my life. Dramatic? Yes. Sincere? Very.

I baked a batch of millet muffins and drank some coffee. I opened all the windows and let the cool morning air drift through our home. Then, Anna, one of my favorite tri/run buddies biked over and we headed to Lake Nokomis to try out some open water swimming before my sprint tri in a few weeks.

Despite the cloudy water and the ill spread buoys, I felt strong and fast. I really had nothing to measure my speed against, but I imagined coming out of the swim in first place (this will not happen but it was fun to imagine!). The sun was beaming down on the waves and I felt absolutely alive and grateful. Thank you parents for signing me up for swim team at age 6. Highly appreciated.

Now, for some lunch!