Friday: 5:45 AM Bike Class before 8:30 AM Swim and the Australian Ironman of Shame

So, this morning I was up at 5:01 AM and I made it to my class slightly early. I have been filled with trepidation about returning to bike class since I came in last the previous week. It was a blow to my ego. Anyway, today we did a warm-up and then some tempo riding, before doing one-leg drills. I will not lie to you and tell you that one-leg drills are either easy or enjoyable. They are neither of these things. Todd attempted to have us ride clipped into our pedals with just one leg with no chopping. By no chopping, I mean that as you rotate your foot through the pedal stroke you are completely smooth, WITH JUST ONE LEG. I never succeeded in getting through a pedal drill with no chopping, and maybe I was cursing under my breath the whole time, and when I say maybe, it means I definitely was.

Now, after finishing the pedal drills and the tempo riding, Todd had us ride an Ironman Australia course. It was really interesting actually, and Todd hid our status from us on the big screen, so that we could not see how we were performing next to our classmates. It was kind of like Montessori school. Anyway, the trainer program added resistance on the uphills of the course and let off on resistance as we went downhill. It was as if we were riding the actual course. The ocean looked beautiful, and I felt like I was riding at top speed, but when Todd cleared the computer, I had out my eagle eye as the results briefly popped up on screen, and I saw that I had only ridden 12 mph, throughout the Australia Ironman ride. My place was second to last, which I guess was better than dead last, but this class is undoubtedly taking a toll on my athletic ego. Todd asked if I was signing up for the next series, but I really need 6 weeks off to recover my self-esteem. At which point I will be 6 weeks worse than I am now, so maybe I should sign up for the next course. My thought was 6 weeks on and then 6 weeks off, though I might need to rethink.

Anyway, I came home and packed up to go to swim class. Swim was great. Workout as follows:

• 300 swim/ 200 drill
• 4 x 100 kick @ 2:00
• 4 x 150 swim @ 2:30
• 5 x 100 kick @ 2:00
• 6 x 100 swim @ 1:50
• 2 x 300 pull @ 6:00

This was 3200 meters in all, and I felt pretty good for my bike workout. At home, Ivan and I hung out until my parents arrived to visit with Ivan. After their visit and Ivan's nap, I loaded up my car and headed to Birmingham to help out my sister with baby Rye for the weekend. Had sushi for dinner and headed to bed early!!