First Brick
Ah, multisport training! For those that don’t know, a brick is doing two different sports consecutively. It would not necessarily have anything to do with triathlon actually. So today, it was a swim followed by a run. Why? Um, why not. Just kidding. It is a really useful tool both physically and psychologically. You train your body to expect to do something else physical after a specific exercise (swim -then bike -then run); and, you can be ready in your mind for the pain and weakness that occurs in the transition.
My very first triathlon was the Camp Pendleton International in CA. I remember the swim was crazy and chaotic, but halfway through everyone was sorted out and I felt a nice rhythm. Transitioning onto the bike, I don’t remember any issues really…salt water draining from my sinuses as I tried to get aero? The transition from the bike to the run was very traumatic for me, though. During the first mile or two, my butt was so tight from the bike, fear sprouted in me that I would not be able to finish. It was that uncomfortable. But I finished. I think my overall time was 2:45, mid-pack. I will never forget that time, nor the fact that the body works it out after a while. In retrospect, it might have been useful to stop for 10 seconds and stretch it out really good, or do it in T2 (second transition, in the transition area).
And I learned something about my fitness level in this brick.
I swam a total of 2400 yds at the YMCA. The warm-ups are getting easier, more ritualistic – just get these arms moving and the blood pumping so the initial burn goes away. I did 2 x 250, 200, 100, with 5 x 50 form/sprints in between. It was interesting transitioning from slow to fast twitch, then back again. I would now consider myself as having an aerobic base, so sprints and faster work can be added.
Anyway, I quickly showered and changed into my running gear and set out at a slow pace and my heart rate (HR) was high, at about 161-ish. Granted, there is a big hill coming out of the Y to where I would do most of my running, but my HR stayed in zone 4 most of the first two miles. The average HR of the run was 157, right in the middle of zone 3.
Ok, so what does this tell me? That my average pace of 10:43 is probably my race pace. I do have about 2 months to work more speed into my training, and it is on the plan, but that is pretty slow. I don’t remember my exact times from before, but am pretty sure I was running at least 2 minutes faster per mile. Again, ego. Like an oil, it just sticks and spreads, it’s residue subtle and everywhere.
The bottom line from this brick: I feel fit enough to finish the Pinehurst race without stopping, and I am encouraged by that!
