With just over eight weeks until Ironman Coeur d’Alene (wow- typing that just gave me heart palpitations), I’m pretty pleased with how many training is going considering my late start and a few bumps along the way.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in the saddle (although it’s an indoor saddle), my swimming is steady, and I’m hoping to slowly increase running mileage (since five miles is nowhere near 26.2).
Over the last three weekends, I’ve pedaled away on my trainer for just under 16 hours. Here are some interesting numbers:
- I watched five movies, five tv episodes, and parts of two pro bike races (Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold).
- I tested two chamois butters (dznuts bliss and chamois butt’r).
- I sweated buckets.
- I drank 5.5 litres of liquid (water and Nuun).
- And I ate a lot.
- My dog came down for kisses no less than a dozen times.
- I broke a new record: five hours straight on a trainer.
- I rode two bikes and love the fit and feel of my new one.
On Saturday I rode on my trainer for five hours. It definitely took some mental toughness, but overall I’m not struggling with riding inside yet.
I think I’m enjoying it for a few reasons:
- I know it needs to get done. Living in Alberta and signing up for a June Ironman may not be the best idea since our weather isn’t conducive to long outdoor biking before mid-April, if we’re lucky. If I want to make it 180km on June 23, I need time in the saddle regardless of whether it’s inside or outside.
- I feel safe. Sometimes I get pretty scared riding on the highway. Every fall, I thank my lucky stars that my husband and I had another safe riding season. Riding inside is cutting down on the dangers of the highway.
- I enjoyed a nice physical and mental break. When we were in Asia, I had five weeks off of biking (minus our fun day riding cruisers in the hutongs of Beijing). Training wasn’t a priority. I felt fresh coming home and have been looking forward to training sessions.
There are also cons:
- No wind or other natural elements to work through.
- Chafing seems to be worse inside without wind to dry sweat!
- I miss the fresh air, farmers’ fields, and actually riding somewhere!
I’ve said it a few times before, but hopefully I can get out on the road soon. Technically I could ride outside right now, but when it’s barely above freezing on the weekends, I just can’t make myself get out there and freeze for hours.
I went out for an hour last Thursday and plan to ride outside for an hour this evening. We’ll see what the weekend has in store!
What’s your drink of choice for fuel? Do you prefer indoor (trainer, treadmill) training or outdoor?