The fire is OUT!

My fingers were crossed as I started my scheduled workout on Monday, Brick #2. 30 minutes on the bike followed immediately with a 60 minute run. Sigh.

I was excited, yet apprehensive. My mind was flirting with positive thoughts, but cluttered with memories of my two triathlons, burning shins as soon as get into my run off the bike -- on FIRE!

Brick #1 of this training plan went fine two weeks ago, but I did have an unexpected gap in between the ride and run as I ran into some neighbors and stopped to chat... my mind tried telling me that it wasn't a real brick; no wonder I didn't have any pain.

It's funny how much planning goes into working out these days! Not only in fitting everything in which I discussed in my previous post, but getting everything organized! The plan was as follows: Cycling on my tri bike mounted on the trainer, change my clothes, run across the street, into the office building, up the escalator to the gym, drop jacket, start treadmill and run.

Garmin 305 unit in the quick release mount on the bike - check.

Garmin quick release strap on my wrist, ready to transfer from bike to wrist - check

ipod ready, playlist selected - check

changed into my cycling stuff - check

socks that I can wear to ride and run - check

heart rate monitor on - check

capri pants and top ready to get changed into quickly when off the bike - check

hat for my head to run across the street since I will already be sweating - check

jacket ready to go - check

running shoes by the door, ready to go - check

Water bottle ready to go, placed by my shoes so I won't forget it! - check

What, that doesn't count as part of the workout?! Pffft.  

30 minutes on the bike passes by rather quickly, bike shorts off, capris on, tank top off, dry tank top on, switch Garmin to wrist, bike shoes off, running shoes on, hat on, run back to grab my ipod I had set down while changing, back to the door, shoes on, jacket on, triple check to make sure I also have my iPhone... yes, I have priorities... grab water bottle, and I'm finally out the door heading to the gym -- running! Check both ways before crossing the road, stopped to hold the door open for a elderly gentleman with a walker, eyes down to avoid eye contact with anyone familiar that might be around, run up the escalator, swipe my gym card which stays in my iPhone pouch. Phew! Good thing I went back for it! Head straight for the treadmill while I'm switching my Garmin from bike to run mode, drop my jacket, and I'm setting up the treadmill for a 60 minute steady run!  Transition time, 7 minutes, 46 seconds!

I ran the full 60 minutes with no calf or shin pain at all! During my last triathlon, I walked more than I ran in the short 5k distance due to the intense burning -- even walking was painful!  I was glowing by the end of the brick -- it was done!

While my mood was elevated, the little mental negativity kicked in later on -- 'all good on a treadmill, but whatcha got for a real run on the roads?'

Brick #3 was Tuesday, yesterday... which would happen to be another milestone! 45 min higher cadence ride, followed immediately by a faster (this term is relative, people! haha) 10 minute run. My planning and process as described above was the same, except that instead of changing into capris and a tank top for a treadmill run, I needed tights, an Under Armour Cold Gear top -- both which can be difficult to put on while already sweaty by the way -- and gloves. Since my stress fractures, this is the first time I was attempting any sort of back to back days of running. Knowing it would only be a 10 minute run, it really didn't make me nervous.  

I felt great! I was bounding over puddles! It was my fastest run since injury, probably because I knew it would be over quickly, but completely forgetting that I had run the day before!  The best part is, no burning!

So, I'm not sure if things are going so much better because:

• I'm riding the new tri bike while training? Is it that much better fit for me (even though I had proper bike fits done on both my road and tri bike), or are tri bikes that different?
• Has following this training plan pretty diligently done what it was supposed to? Am I just better conditioned, and better trained?

Somewhat rhetorical questions, and I'm really not seeking an answer... I'm just going to keep riding this wave as far as it'll take me! I'm stoked!