Kansas 70.3 Camp

I attended the Midwest Triathlon Coaching Kansas 70.3 training camp this weekend. It felt a little grueling as I hadn't gotten much sleep after getting back from California, but it was a good barometer of where I am right now, I think.





KS 70.3 Training Camp



Friday night, we did a "master's" format swim workout at the Lee's Summit Aquatic Center. It took me a bit to find it, but my, it was a super nice facility. One would think that swimming in a 50 meter lane would not be that big a transition from a 25 yard pool. I had just done 2300 yards the night before, so it wasn't like I couldn't do the distance. But, I felt a little winded after each length.



Saturday, we headed to Lawrence to do a short open water swim in Clinton Lake and ride the 70.3 bike course. While the OWS was not a raging success for me, I would not call it a failure, either. But, I still had some anxiety and breathing issues. I really am a head case... and I really do not like the constricting feeling of my wetsuit. I was hoping that I would feel more comfortable than I did when I was in the water. I will be getting back in the lakes a couple more times before the Kansas City Triathlon, so I'm hoping my comfort level will grow. Thank goodness that I'm only signed up for the sprint at KC Tri!

My legs felt a little tired on the ride, but they weren't too bad. I rode with my fellow Red Lady teammate, who had also gone to Big Sur. We ended up cutting the course short as she wasn't feeling very good. The day was unseasonably hot (low 90's) and typically humid which we really haven't had time to acclimate to. I averaged 15.6 mph, which I wasn't too unhappy with, considering I was really taking it easy. Kansas is a hilly course. Assuming I can get myself through the swim at that race. My swim experience earlier that day was not a confidence builder. 

The run was today. I ended up going 8.5 miles, which is further than I would have gone on my own. (I take recovery seriously, LOL). While I didn't do the intensity that I thought I would have, it was still a good training weekend, and I learned more. The coach had some very different advice on nutrition, which was encouraging for me as I was worried about how I was going to get solids down in the heat on the bike.

The season is quickly upon me. I'm not sure I'm ready. I've got that slightly sick feeling in my stomach that I carried most of last year; that niggling of doubt now that the abstract is becoming the reality. It's been a two steps forward, one step back kind of week for me. I hope that means that I'm still making forward progress.