Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Wednesday gym workout

A super-enjoyable session with M. this morning (mercifully rescheduled to 8 rather than 6:15, though I got up at 5:15 anyway to do a couple work things early on). There is something about knowing I am only allowed to exercise for an hour (I wrote off the notion of swim or bike today, I need to keep the volume down for taper!) that gives an ineffable and not strictly physiological intensity to the time. Upper-body and core stuff, it's good--I'm looking forward to bumping up the weekly sessions after this race. Next week will be recovery week, partly just because of holiday-related inconvenience, so I'll just have one session on Wednesday, but I think I'll move to 2/week for the last couple weeks of the semester and then go up to three once I'm done teaching. Muscles!

Gear-related musings: hmmm, pondering what to wear on Sunday, it's a bit problematic. The weather's just been freakishly hot, so I haven't really had a chance to test out colder-weather gear (and I don't have a lot anyway, since I was injured all last winter). Last year I checked a bag and it was a great nuisance retrieving it afterwards, they were very chaotic; I'd rather just wear everything on my back.

But the race start is at 7am, so if I'm there by 6:15 it's a longish coldish wait with just a light long-sleeved shirt on. I've got a Patagonia fleece-type pullover that I will fall back on if needed, but during my last short run tomorrow I'm going to try out the new jacket I bought this weekend. I know it's a bit dire trying something new so close to the race, but I'm almost certainly going to take it off just before the start and tie it around my waist anyway, so it should be OK... and it's got lots of pockets, so I can have gloves tucked away, and also my phone. I had thought of running really light, carrying barely anything, but I think to be on the safe side the phone is needed in case there is some reason I do not particularly want to walk the couple miles back to my brother's house--I will hope to get a taxi, but in Philadelphia it's never a sure thing to hail one on the street, not like NY...

(Last year after this race I pretty much couldn't walk, it was NOT good! My poor mother has still not recovered--my brother and sister-in-law and training partner L. were not particularly traumatized--but it is different for mothers... I have made a mental note already that if/when I do an iron-distance triathlon I had better make sure she is (a) in another state and (b) knows as little about it as possible...)

(I got a couple pairs of tights at the same time as the jacket, but they're definitely warmer than I need, I'll just wear the usual Nike capri ones that I always wear--I've got multiple pairs, they are absurdly comfortable...)

4 comments:

Unknown said...

As I have nothing constructive to offer in terms of gear selection, I ask, is the new jacket in puddle/stream or twig/leaf??

Becca said...

Ancient sweatshirt or other warm garment that you toss to the side when you are ready to take it off (i.e. discard). Seriously. Also old socks on your hands, because keeping your hands warm really helps, and then you toss those too. And don't worry about the cell phone--there will be plenty of spectators at the end and it is absolutely respectable to ask a stranger if you can make a call on their phone.

Dances with Corgis said...

yeah it HAS been wierd figuring out what to wear... I would say dress warm for pre-race and then take off layers as you see fit.

Brent Buckner said...

Always amusing to see the folks with their heads sticking out of garbage bags before race start. You could choose to be one of those people!