#imlp16

Then I remembered that I made one of my biggest mistakes of IMLP15 training on cinco de mayo last year.

Build week #2 conclusion initial reaction: L.A. Fitness has it out for me. Missed my swim on Wednesday because the pool was “closed.” I’m pretty sure if the damn thing is still full of water and the filters are running, it’s open. Nope. As a result, I got yelled at by the pointless staff. And why was the pool closed, you ask? Because the pool warmers were broken. BUT I WAS ALREADY SWIMMING! IT OBVIOUSLY DIDN’T BOTHER ME! Nope. Doesn’t matter. Pool is broken. Grrrr. Also, the fire alarm went off in the mall during my Friday swim (the L.A. Fitness is actually in the mall. Why? Not sure.) and, after poolwarmergate on Wednesday, I didn’t get out. I looked up, people were still in the gym, so I kept swimming. The pool is already my own personal hell, why not add real flames.

Random Notes:

-I swam 3000 yards in the pool for the first time EVER. For those counting at home, that’s 120 laps in a 25 yard pool. Yea, fuck me, right? I looked back at my training from last year and the longest pool swim I found was 2500, and it was right around this time. Looking back at my training from last year explained A LOT. I’ll expound on that in a couple months...

-I’ve decided that all of my training runs will be in the afternoon/heat/late at night until race day. No triathlon starts with the run, so there’s no reason for me to have fresh legs, ever, when I go out for a run. And it’s not like it’s a bad thing, I ran in the mid 8s during my brick yesterday, and in the high 8s after my 3000 yard swim today. I feel like I’m better off with a “warm up” anyway.

-I’m in desperate need of a race. It’s getting bad. I feel like I’m going to explode if I don’t toe the line soon. All of my workouts are clicking and I just want to unleash it on a course. But there are no triathlons until June-ish in the Northeast. Grrrrrr.

-Shit talking is approaching epic proportions for the Quassy Half in June, and I am the one leading the charge. Shocker, right? Best part, there’s actually a pool going around on who will win. Among my coworkers, I’m the only one competing in both days of the event, and that hasn’t stopped me from having the biggest mouth (I haven’t met many of you guys in person, but the ones I HAVE met, @elkay723 and @iwatchtheworldoutside, can attest to my ridiculous bets). In my defense, I’m the ONLY one who is actually training for a triathlon. The rest of the guys have been bullshitting. They’re all in decent shape, and 2 of them actually beat me last year at Quassy, but the only reason they got the best of me was because of my swim. Take that away and it would have been REALLY close. This year I’m taking it seriously. I’m going to roast them.

So close to the 10 hour mark. No need to rush, though, it’s coming.

I follow an online group for IMLP and A LOT of people are putting up RIDICULOUS totals so far, and it’s honestly making me anxious. But I’ve seen it before, and know I have to trust my plan. My totals will get there. I have a recovery week on deck, followed by what looks like a 12 hour week, to start my “build” phase. I should probably embrace these easier weeks...

Random notes:

I was ecstatic about breaking the 2:00/100yard pace a few weeks ago, and now it’s becoming the norm. I actually hit a 1:40 pace on Friday when I was helping a friend with his swimming. Yes, you read that correctly. Someone is worse than me in the water.

Cycling is becoming a lot easier over the long haul. Writing posts while attached to the trainer really helped pass the time. I think it’s the most I’ve written, in one week, in a long time. Still need to find a rubik’s cube, though. That and more movie/show suggestions for Netflix. I saw a 3 hour ride in the not so distant future...

My only missed workout was my Friday night run, but I tacked it onto my long run today, so I made it work. 2 hours on the trail today, right after my 2200 yard swim, was just what I needed. I wouldn’t mind never running on a treadmill again, either. Wednesday night speed work can go to hell if it’s on the godforsaken treadmill. Workouts are going to have to start book-ending my work schedule in order to get them in; LA Fitness damn near kicked me out on Wednesday night. What’s the deal? Can’t let me shower in peace? Go back to your desk and text while you ignore the members.

I don’t think I mentioned it, but I signed up for the Full Revolution at Quassy in June. The Quassy Half was voted one of the Top-5 hardest triathlons in the country last year, and I’m stupid, so I signed up for the Olympic triathlon on Saturday AND the Half-Iron on Sunday, aka the Full Rev. The only time I raced 2 days in a row was a 5k on 12/31 and 5k on 1/1, a few years ago. This is a bit different. I’m also considering a super-sprint Tri in May, just because I got 3rd in my age group and I think I can actually win it this year.

Sure, You can tell people that you're just trying to "beat your former self" or some other self-righteous bullshit, but there are times that you are out for the kill. And you know others are, too.

You don't talk about it to them. You stay cordial. But you see them working hard. Or completely slacking. You know they want you to do the same. You don't. But you keep mental notes.

You'll probably line up at the start line and halfheartedly wish each other luck, knowing that deep down you just want them to suffer.

These are the people I enjoy having in my life. The people who want to bury me. The people I want to bury. And at the end of the day drink beer with. Because the fire has its limit.

"We live in an iThing, instant gratification, One-Click world where almost everything we aspire to can be had quickly and easily. Not here, not in this sport. If you want to have a good race you have to earn it in the months and years before race day. There are no shortcuts. You either have the miles in your legs or you don’t. Before race day, make sure you do. There is no bullshitting the miles or the clock into believing you do."