Team in Training Update: Double Workouts

Since beginning with Team in Training, on my own once or twice I have done a run and a spinning class, or some combination of triathlon disciplines. This morning at 8 am was my first experience doing a double workout: swimming 1700 yards (drills and paced laps) and running 6 miles.

I. Am. Wiped. Out. I don't remember feeling like this even after finishing a marathon! But all this week I've been tired and slightly below my normal energy level. On Thursday we had a gig and I just didn't have the juice to really shake it on stage like I like to. Thankfully the other singer was really on fire that night and I didn't have too many songs to sing as it was mostly a funk/R&B date. "What's wrong with me?" I thought. "Oh yeah, I'm training for a triathlon." It makes me wonder about my gig schedule--I've been toying with the idea of taking a gig in Monterey on a Saturday night but it might not be such a wise move if I've done a double workout that morning.

The coaches say it's normal to hit a period of exhaustion as your body adapts to the new demand you place on it. This morning I was absolutely panting in the pool--I had graduated to a lane with faster swimmers in it. I asked one of the coaches if I was going too slow for the lane and he said no, but that I needed to work on not having my arms cross over on my stroke. Of course, trying to implement that advice ruined my form and made me quite tired.

Then we got out of the pool after an hour, toweled off, laboriously squeezed our wet bodies into running gear and headed out. I was aiming for 7 miles but after 3 miles of keeping pace with the front-runners, which include two really fast women, I gave myself a break. When I saw the first guy turn back I asked him how far he'd gone and he said the 3-mile turnaround was just ahead. I think it helped that it was a man, and a fast one, who had made that decision. I looked at my watch and saw that I'd been at 9-minute miles and was gratified.

But I tell you, the return trip was brutal. Only three men were in front of me (the 7-milers were still outbound) and I really had to argue with myself to keep going. But as long as I could see those guys, I felt I couldn't quit. At the end, I was convincing myself to make it to the last corner. Once I got there, I convinced myself to make it to my truck. When it was over I realized I'd done the whole 6-mile run at 9-minute pace, which is pretty good for me.

This process makes me realize I'm more competitive than I think. I mean, I'm really not fast for a weekend warrior, but knowing that I'm not at the back of this pack is great motivation.

I got home and crawled into bed at 11 am but an AWOL bass player called and woke me up an hour later. So now I am just hoping tonight will be spent in peaceful slumber. I need it so bad.