He swims with the fishes

Though you may expect me to just make a thin reference, but then proclaim how I swam super fast with super fast swimmers, this is not the case. I firmly mean this in the mafia sense, as in I felt mostly dead after swimming drills yesterday. I showed up to the pool and tried my best to talk my way out of them, but my swimming mentor and head executioner...er...coach, Pam, wasn't having it. You see, Nick and Pam were recently giving me "the business" about my purple line (swim minutes) being very puny and weak. I just wasn't swimming enough, but for some reason was expecting miracles in the pool come race time. Nick and I competed hotly last year in the SCTS races, and is looking strong this year. Pam is just some kind of fish, while trouncing all the other ladies in her age group in biking and running. She's fast. REALLY fast! As I mentioned, I lobied hard to just swim distance. Pam gently twisted my arm, and I was then on a path to certain drowning.
1700 yards, just under an hour, heart rate probably about 327 at times, and these evil little bands that go around your ankles to limit your kick amplitude. I meekly sulked away, proverbial tail between my legs, truly humbled. Pam was, in contrast, doing 3600yds of evil drills in 1.5 hours. Did I mention she's a fish?

To top it off, I have decided to try and incorporate 5 sets of 5 pull ups every day I'm at work (5 days a week, usually), no matter what other exercises I'm doing. This started Tuesday, but was immediately regretted on Wednesday, after the drills. *sigh*

Today was a nice brick. Now this I can handle! I took the bike out and cranked it HARD. I beat my course record by about 30 seconds, and then cranked out a strong run. Unfortunately, I had to guess at the time, and do a little reverse calculations based on estimated start time and bike time. I think I was around 6:46 per mile. Not Paul pace for a brick, by any means, but not bad for this stage of the season for me. And I finished strong with gas in the tank. I'm again hopeful for the season...as long as Pam doesn't kill me in the pool!

In other news, I get to spend Good Friday with Grace tomorrow, since her day care is closed. We are going to sleep in (ahhhhhh!) and then go to the gym. She'll enjoy some child care for a bit while I do some laps (not enough punishment this week?) and then she'll join me for some fun times in the pool. Yay!! Mendy should be showing up to do laps around that time, which should be good.


I'm looking forward to my body adapting to this level of training, but first I'm very much looking forward to a day off. I've had 1 full off day in the last 20, and 2 days off in the last 27. "Stimpy, my friend, I'm BUSHED!"

Oh, and a big shout out to my bro, currently stationed in England. Apparently he's been stalking my blog and keeping tabs on the training. I'm sure he's jealous, since the weather there is absolute poop for outdoor activity 9 months out of the year. Anyway, hi John! Our love to Robin, Lexi, Victoria, and Olivia, too! Hopefully we'll get a chance to get over there and visit for some REAL food. :-)

I'm trying to stay up with the rest of you guys, but time runs short. Looking forward to jogging the CRBR with Mendy and Tiff in a couple of weeks, with lots of pics and fun stories to follow. Eh, I guess I better start running longer distances again, huh? Later, peeps! Catch up wit youze as I can.