Training has been lets just say interesting this year. I got a walk up call in the Innisfail race, they say your lack of training will show on race day.... So I have been working on finding a balance with my new shift rotation. Four 12hr shifts then four days off makes it a weird workout schedule. I have been going to the Talisman Center when the 50M pool is open which I think has improved my swimming. I have not worked on the bike except for going around Glenmore Reservoir at least once a week. Running, well now here is the heart of the problem. I have been neglecting my stretches that should help my calves. They had been doing well I went for a 6km run with no pain a week ago. Two days before the tri I went for a run and 1Km into it they both locked solid. I hobbled home muttering and cussing at myself trying to stretch the heck out of them.
The day before this Tri I helped my buddy Dan move into a really nice home. It was fairly warm out and we worked fairly hard to get the job done before it got really hot. I stepped on the scale and I lost 4lbs in 24 hours by doing this move. The other plus is that I have taken possession of his neglected bike. This is the bike that in High school when we would ride the loop he would sprint ahead of me and give me that "come on slowpoke" look.... now it is my bike may it have some sprinting power left in it for me.
Morning of the tri and I am still thinking it might be a good idea to not race. This past turn over from night shift didn't go so well and I have been feeling under the weather. Got some food in me and looked at my packed bag at the bottom of the stairs and that was it... I had a race to do. I rode the bike to the park because parking is limited and it is not that far... really it's not. Some of you might remember I rode from downtown to UofC for my very first race using Home Road to get there. (one of those hills were your car drops a gear or two to get up for the out of towners)
I had a lot of nervous energy this morning, now that I think of it, this is how your suppose to feel after tapering. I got there really early to get a good spot on the rails. I finally met the other Miller that I see on the confirmation lists. As I was in the first heat after the briefing I got ready. My lap counter was a bit late in identifying herself so that got my heart rate a bit up there as we got our 2 min warning.
The swim I put my head down and went to work. There was a no-show so it was me and another lady which was nice, because I didn't feel crowded at all. Mind you she passed me three times. My arms were sore but not dead weight like Innisfail at least I was able to get myself out of the pool on the first try. Boy it was a long run to the transition area. When I got my heart rate monitor on it said 199......... oh crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bike was fun. There was large section that is being re-constructed so it was a bit tricky, so bad it was a no pass area. My tri buddy Mike was volunteering in this area and it was good to see a familiar face. I was glad I used this route for training because there are some parts where you just need to chill and recover and others where you just crank on it. There are a lot of positive volunteers on course... I just love it when they get into it. This course had a bunch of police covering it. This one poor guy had a "lady" out of her car waving her arms and flapping her gums about not getting to church on time. The same guy a lap before blew his whistle and yelled at someone that was trying to go on the right side of a sign that said stay to the left (as I left for the day I told one of the other cops to give him a pat on the back) The hill wasn't bad on the first time round but I think it grew each time I went past. Thank goodness the two ladies at the top of the hill were full of one-liners :) The down hill would be a lot more fun if there wasn't such a sharp hairpin at the bottom.
The run was alright until the first hill. I got half way up this tiny little thing and I could feel both calves get stiff, by the time I got to the top they were solid. So the walk with a pinch of running began. It was frustrating to see other racers moving along, but I had my own demons to deal with. The pretty volunteer on the west end of the run raised my spirits when she said "your the third guy I have seen" then I realized there were only 3 guys in my heat and that meant I was yet again going to be the last placed Male in the race. On the last bit of the race some guy passed me and in the back of my head it yelled "RABBIT" in the past when my head calls out a rabbit I do my best to keep up and eventually pass the rabbit. Pain be dammed all power to the feet!!! As I passed this Sunday morning jogger I thanked him for pulling me along and he smiled at me.
Another race in the bag! I got myself a 5min massage and some food and felt much better! As I went to transition to get my stuff a young lady turns and asks if I am Randy from the Running Room... Turns out that in her first clinic my old instructor told them about my website. It made me feel proud that maybe this website has helped someone. But in my foggy state I didn't get her name, after a bit I could hear Amber's voice (my coworker at SLB) yelling DUDE get her name!! But I couldn't see her anywhere.
I stuck around for a while and chatted with people I recognized from other events and some new people... gotta practice those people skills :) This was the first race I left before the door prizes were handed out... 3 years now and I haven't won anything yet so I thought it would be safe to head early on this birthday of mine. So I slowly road home down Maclead trail because there is no hill on it :) And I went out and bought some parts for Blue Lightning... ah the name for this new bike will come to me sooner or later.
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