2nd Dan Black Belt
In 2013 I decided I wanted to get involved with Team in Training again. It had been 5 years since my last event with them. I missed the camaraderie of being part of a team that was involved in raising money to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their mission finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and other other blood cancers. With my cycling comeback completed with exception of hardcore racing and a century, I opted to do America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (AMBBR) in Lake Tahoe. A 100 miles of some of the most amazing scenery and some challenging hills, made for quite a wonderful ride. I don't know how long it took me to do it, or what my speed was. My cycling app ate up my phone battery before I was done. That was fine. This ride wasn't about how fast I could do it. Competition was not on the menu.
Lunch stop around 70 mile mark.
Getting ready for a kick ass 8 mile climb ahead.
Now it's 2014 and my love affair with Team in Training continues. I was all set to do AMBBR again. I signed up, went to the kick-off party, and then found out I had a major conflict the weekend of the ride. So what was I to do? When I bid triathlon farewell back in 2009, I told people maybe I would make my comeback when I hit a new age group. Guess what? I'm turning 60 next month, and I'm now in a new age group. 60-64. I am making my triathlon comeback at the Sleepy Hollow Sprint Triathlon on June 29th as member of Team in Training. I'm mentoring 5 new team members and I'm excited to be coming back to the sport.
BUT! I have not run in years, and this sprint triathlon is clearly a runner's race with a 5K run and only a 10 mile bike ride. So what's an old uber-competitive tri-geek to do? Three words: Get over it! I am pretty much starting from scratch with the running. I downloaded C25K (Couch to 5K) app onto my phone, and I'm going to follow it to the letter. I can't do with running what I did with cycling a few years ago where I went from 30 miles a week to 75 miles a week to 150 miles a week in the course of a month. I have to slowly convince my cranky knees and hips that running is their friend.
Day 1 of C25K
Group run training with TNT
I completed day 2 of the program today. The first week is a 30 minute workout. 5 minute walk warm up followed by intervals of 60 seconds running/90 seconds walking and ends 5 minute cool down. I like the app because I can listen to my music and the app tells me when to walk and when to run without me having to constantly look at my phone or watch. Also it will keep me honest in terms of building up properly.
This blog is making a comeback to as I keep track of my triathlon comeback. Come on back and follow my journey. In the meantime go check out my donation page.
