Physical and Mental Recovery

This last training week (ending today) has been very taxing physically and mentally. Physically because of all the hard work done, mentally because there was a race involved, and several intensity sessions. And intensity gets even harder mentally when you are fatigued physically.

Monday started off with a 1.5hr run through UBC trails. Legs were still feeling tired from Friday and Saturday efforts and so I just cruised. Dont know how far I run, neither I care. In the afternoon I got 4 solid loops of the Open Water swim at kits, Patrice, Ryan, Vincent and Curtis were also there which made it more fun and a little more competitive (Patrice, thanks for whacking me in the head a couple of times, it really adds some race day feeling to it!).

Tuesday my lats and triceps woke up in pain. I guess 4.4km inside a rubber suit makes you work a bit harder to move the arms around. In the morning swim Patrice and I were both destroyed but still put out a decent effort. The afternoon involved a ride to Iona, 1st hour hammer, 2nd hour strong.

Wednesday was going to be painful with lots of intensity. I joined the leading edge crew for a track workout at 5:30 in the morning. Lots of good efforts despite not feeling warmed up until the last 30% of the workout, running speed and morning do not go together. At work I had a friends birthday and therefore I refueled myself with lots of pizza and chicken wings (my one allowed unhealthy meal of the week). In the afternoon I joined the leading edge crew for some 16k individual and team time trials. At this point, with 20 hrs in the bag and track workout in the morning, I did not know how fast I would be able to go. Surprise surprise, it was damn good... I left second to last and quickly bridged to the previous 2 people (Martina and Rob), from that point on the train got started and lasted until the end. On the second round we got put in groups of 4 according to the individual performances. I had literally given all on the ITT and had nothing left, our team average speed was slower than our ITTs.

Today I was glad it was Thursday for many reasons.
1) Yesterday I had great speed workouts and felt a confidence boost
2) After the morning swim I get the afternoon off
3) Today is the end of a tough 3 week block
4) Friday and Saturday should be easier before Sundays Race
5) Tomorrow is payday Friday

Besides training, work is going good. I have been busy for the last couple of weeks working on different things which is good, variety is good. I should get a new project soon, either today or tomorrow. At home everything is normal, the weather has cooled down a bit and so has the apartment, therefore I have been sleeping better. Yesterday Eze made pork teriyaki with broccoli and mushrooms, it was De-li-cious, the best so far (3rd time he makes it I think). He is now taking a class at UBC and still looking for work, but until he finds something he has pulled out the chefs hat and tried a couple of new things. Mom: you should have seen those empanadas...

Anyways, that is it for now. Physically I should be good and ready for the race by Sunday, but I am already feeling great mentally (odd how 1/2 day off and 2 easy days ahead play in your head). Wish me luck!

Facundo