Introducing the Ironman Fear Meter

I think we hit the 70’s in Nashville over the weekend, but that came to a crashing halt this morning.  Ice caked the windows when I grazed by to tackle a painfully early Monday-morning-run.

Today was tough, but it was also the first time I kinda felt like Rocky.  Cold, dark, empty streets waited for my hunched over body covered in a gray hoodie to set sail into the sunrise.  The wind cut through the cotton and dogs barked as I shuffled past.  The meat of the workout was hill repeats, which sounded like a splendid way to kick off the work week.

I jogged two miles past the quiet homes onto the Shelby Park Greenway, then turned to face the steep path that led to the top of the pedestrian bridge.  The ascents were labeled “hard climbs” and I did just that, covering each rise in about a minute.  Then I’d jog down and do it again.

I finished the five hills and turned left toward home.  (I realized tonight, I skipped the “five fast descent followed by slow jogs to the top part).  It was a good way to start the day.

It was a quiet morning, and the only person I saw . . . was a deer.  The Rocky theme played over in my head and I felt strong as I tackled two more hills on the way to my house.  I covered five total miles in about 43 minutes and really wanted to keep going, but reality was calling.

I sat through 8 hours of corporate speak in my basement office wishing I could be in a pool or on a beach or lifting weights or sitting on a trainer (well, maybe not the trainer part).  It was a very technical “numbers-kinda-marketing-day” and I really needed workout number two when I left.

I came home, fed the dog, and went to the pool.  And while I have you, let me just say, I think lap swimmers are treated like the dregs of society.

At the East Nashville pool, we have exactly two lanes and they are just wide enough for a pair of supermodels.  I am always waiting to get in the pool while staring at two or three people eating cheeseburgers on the “fun side.”

I swam about 45 minutes tonight and there was some poor guy watching for at least 20.  Eventually I climbed out and said to the guy, “Sorry, man, I wish they had another lane.”  To which he responded, “Oh, no problem, I have nothing else to do.”

So, I guess this makes me the totally impatient asshole of the bunch!

Tonight’s workout was some crazy ass combination of sprint repeats, but I forgot my sheet so I made up my own version, which consequently wasn’t close.  But, it’s all good because I am still trying to find my comfort zone in the pool and frankly sprinting feels like shit (not to mention I don’t think I’m going much faster).  So, I dabbled in the “fast lane” for about 10 minutes, then finished with a nice, smooth 25 minute swim (that was only interrupted once by some kid who had to take a swim test and let me tell you, this kid swam like Johnny Weismuller.  Water was flying everywhere and he passed with flying colors, then he and his little buddy hogged the other lane with flippers and snorkles).

So, in all, this has been a really nice day.  I feel strong, but not overworked.  That’s kinda my internal barometer at this point.  The last thing I want to be is exhausted and facing a string of tough workouts.

Now I will introduce a new feature on this blog which will rate my confidence level with the different events.

Ironman Fear Meter: 

Swim – Very concerned
Bike – Somewhat concerned
Run – Fairly concerned

Today’s Diet:
Breakfast:  Oatmeal, Banana, Hard boiled egg
Lunch:  Wendy’s #1 with pickles and ketchup only, coke
Afternoon: Small coffee
Dinner: Tuna straight from the can, Hard boiled egg, pasta, an apple