Bret

Race Report of sorts - St. Anthony's Triathlon - Olympic Distance Tri - Relay.  Had a pretty good time today.  Got up early at Richie's house in St. Pete and headed down to the start.  The swim route was new this year, so I was a bit thrown-off by having to basically go in the opposite direction than I am familiar with - and having no sense of pace - I just swam to what felt right and tried not to go off course in the open water swim in the bay.  Water temps were nice at 78 degrees - and although there were some swells - it really wasn't bad.  Ample amount of kicking and bumping during the race resulted in one heel kick to my eye and my google filled with salt water - but nothing too awful.  Odd water (as opposed to beach) start had us treading water for 5 mins before the gun.  Had a very pedestrian effort on the time - of a little over 36 mins for 1500 meters - for which I have no explanation.  I felt good and comfortable and thought I was swimming quite well in fact.  Alas, two years ago, on a different course in the full event, I swam over 6 mins faster. I guess I should have expected to go slower with little to no training and just coming off of the Paris Marathon 2 weeks ago, but just not that slow. 

Ken had a nice bike leg averaging 20.6 mph over the 40 k's and Richie had a very good 10k run of 37:50 which gave us 4th Place in the old men's relay competition (Male Masters).  Our nearest competitor in 3rd was over 9 mins ahead of us (so even if I swam to what I thought I was able to do, we still would not have placed any higher).  Interestingly, when I did this event in 2010 individually my time was 2:31 and in this competition in a relay  today- our time was 2:30.  Obviously, my overall contribution to the effort was the poorest - but we had a fun time nonetheless. 

Had to run about a mile to get to my car after the swim to get to church on time - hence the 1 mile in the log.

AM - easy 3 miles this morning - as I resume normal training mode.  Easing back into it.

PM - 7.25 miles at lunch with Richie around Carillon and Feathersound - Did a "post-mortem" of the relay tri from yesterday.  Plenty warm today in the upper 80's.  If he did not ask me to run, I probably would have stayed inside on the treadmill. 

PM - easy 8 miles on the treadmill at lunchtime.

PM - after work 5 more miles - quite slow.

AM - easy 4 miles before work.  Legs feeling the "weight" of the miles from the last two days even though on paper it is still light and within normal training ranges for me.  Amazing how easy 2 a days were in the midst of training just a month or so ago, and how quickly the body adapts to not doing them.  Doesn't help that I am trying to drop a few pounds too - I guess I enjoyed the french food - a bit more than my fair share.

PM - 8 more at lunchtime on the treadmill (heating up outside - over 90 degrees).

AM - easy 3 miles before work.

PM - 7.25 miles outside at lunch.  Very warm temps in the upper 80's.  Made two water stops - almost summerlike.

AM - 4 miles easy before work - supplemental miles.  I am enjoying these easy untimed morning runs - low intensity, no stress.

PM - 8 more on the treadmill at lunch.

PM - 12 miles on the treadmill on a warm / hot afternoon.