wharf to wharf

This morning I dragged myself out of bed at 5am. The cat was ecstatic - early breakfast! I drove pretty much all alone on the road down to Santa Cruz for the Wharf to wharf "run" with 14,999 other folks. After the starting gun went off, about 5 minutes passed before I made it up to the starting line, and the first mile was pretty much all walking. I didn't really start running until after the second mile marker. My finish time for the six mile race was about 57 minutes; over the last two miles the time splits suggested that I was running just a bit faster than an 8 minute mile pace. Two things learned, to remember if I ever run a "race" like this again: (1) don't be honest and line up under your estimated mile pace - I was passing people all the way to the finish line, and (2) bring a watch! It was a really good time though - there were over 40 bands providing entertainment and encouragement along the entire route. Quite festive!

Yesterday's official triathlon workout was the toughest yet by far. After an hour in the pool attempting to swim the same distances over and over at the same speeds or faster, I was wiped out. Then came a pretty fast 40 mile bike ride that went up and down and up and down and up and down these pretty short but steep hills. The first four or five or so were fine, but then . . . . With the commute to training and back, that makes 60 miles total, at about 17 mph average, up and down and up and down. I've been on rides of longer distances, but they weren't as hard. I cannot imagine going for a 13 mile run after such a ride. I wonder if I'll be able to do the triathlon in September after all!?

On a positive note, donations are going pretty well - don't miss your chance!

Sunday weekly totals: 5600 yards swimming, 138 miles biking, 16 miles running. Less hours sleeping than I'd like!