September 2-8: About that Race 3 Weeks after an Ironman...

In general, racing less than a month after an Ironman isn't really the best idea, which means that I really have no  business racing until at least the end of September. But, like I said last week, I had a specific objective in racing at the Nation's Triathlon on Sunday: to come in top 10% in my age group, which would qualify me for 2014 Age Group Nationals. Based on previous results, it was one of my best chances to meet this standard at a USAT-sanctioned race, so despite the proximity to Ironman Mont Tremblant, I went ahead and did it and hoped I'd be able to sneak into that to 10%.

So that was close, but it looks like I'm in. Not calling it official until the email from USAT with entry instructions shows up.

Monday: Nothing. Totally nothing.

Tuesday: An hour on the bike trainer in the morning, with a bunch of Z3 intervals that showed me that my Z3 power required a ridiculously high effort and heart rate. Added on 25 miles of biking around town on my road bike to get to a medical appointment and work.

Wednesday: A 5ish mile track workout, including 4x1000 (4:54-4:53-4:52-4:58), that reminded me that my legs still aren’t quite back from the Ironman yet, JUST IN CASE the bike trainer workout the day before didn’t make that clear. 19 miles of commuting between home, work, and the track on the road bike.

Thursday: Nothing. I should have swum, according to my training schedule, but didn’t feel like it. How’s that for a good reason to skip a workout?

Friday: 5.3 (or so) untimed miles in blissful low humidity in the morning. 27x100 meters of swimming to celebrate Rachel’s birthday in the evening.

Saturday: 5.5 miles of coasting downhill to transition for Nation’s Tri to rack my bike.

Sunday: 1500 meters of swimming in 25 minutes, 25 miles of biking in 1:20:20, and 6.2 miles of running in 53:59 (got to love that :59) for a total race time of 2:44:14 at Nation’s Tri. Followed up with 5.5 miles of biking (uphill) home from transition with all my gear.