Tuesday TOB

An absolutely lovely bike ride - I really believe that this will be the year when I learn to love cycling as much as I do running and swimming. I definitely had elevated HR at a couple traffic stops on the way over, but didn't feel actually breathless or panicky, and the park ride was lovely - it is a hot day, I was happy I wasn't running!

I am never going to have the love of the open road that to my mind characterizes the true cyclist, but I have thought for some time (despite evident obstacles!) that really cycling should be my strength out of the three triathlon disciplines - I am a middle-of-the-pack runner, I like it very much, but it's more that I have a strong engine and am willing to work quite hard than that I have any particular turn of speed or efficiency; and though I love swimming, I am a pretty inefficient swimmer and always will be slower than someone who swam a lot as a kid.

(My gift as a swimmer is that I truly feel at home in the water - I am a homebody, even on a run I always feel more anxious on the outward leg than once I have turned around and am homeward bound, I feel attached to home on some kind of stretchy cord - but as soon as I am in the water, I feel at home in a way that makes me forget about that sort of anxious stretchy homeward orientation.)

But cycling is where I really should be able to become quite strong and efficient - my build is better suited to it than running...

4 park loops (24.3 miles, avg speed 15.8mph, avg HR 133, max HR 150)