Run, Dawnie, Run!: Accidental Brick

June 29, 2006

Accidental Brick

So, I'm signed up for this triathlon in August. It's nothing huge - it's a super-sprint, which, checking the web site, is super-tiny. 375m swim, 10k bike, 2.5k run. Nothing, really. I entered it mostly because I had a free entry through my employer - it just cost me the $9 for the USAT day permit. Back in October when I got the e-mail at work telling me I could register for this for free, I figured, "Hey, what the heck? It's free!"

Of course, after a few months, I started to talk myself out of it. Messing with the equipment would be a pain in the butt. Figuring out if I needed a wetsuit would be a pain in the butt, especially if it turned out I did. Not to mention the fact that my bike situation was up in the air. Sure, I have a bike, but it's one I haven't ridden in 7 years. I wasn't sure how much work it would take to get it to a rideable state. Plus, I didn't have a helment, blah blah blah. I was pretty much willing to say, "oops, no bike, no can do," and wimp out of the whole thing. After all, it didn't cost me anything to register, so it wouldn't cost me anything to skip out of it.

Anyhow, fast forward to last week when my neighbor offered to clean up and tune up my bike for me. What the heck. He did, and it turned out all my bike needed was a little adjusting here and there - despite being moved all over the midwest and sitting in various closets, spare rooms, and basements for the past 7 years, it was in perfectly good condition. I was ready to go! Except I didn't have a helmet or a lock. Well, that was fixed easily enough - I stopped by a bike shop on the way home from work Tuesday evening, and they got me all hooked up with what I needed. I'd have to bring my bike up there to have them install these locking skewer things (to keep people from walking off with my quick-release wheels), but that was it.

No problem, I said! And then I thought about what would be involved in getting my bike up there. Riding it. In the city. Eeeeek. I told myself it would be OK. Tons of people use the bike lanes and are totally fine. I'd just have to suck it up, do it, and I'd be fine. Besides, it would be worth it. A summer free from waiting for the bus! It would be so much easier to be able to bike my errands instead of having to CTA it around town. So. Much. Easier. Not to mention better for me.

So today when I got home from work, I sucked it up and did it. I rode my bike the few miles up to the bike shop, and got there in one piece. I successfully navigated the bike lanes, and hopped on the sidewalk when there wasn't one. And you know what? It was [i]fine[/i]. And a lot of fun, actually. And now I can leave my bike locked up places without having to worry about someone walking off with my wheels or my seat.

Of course, once I got home, I still had to do my easy 3 mile run for today, so I did a quick change and headed right back out. Now, since I wasn't riding for speed, I didn't think of my little bike ride as a "workout". However, I did cover a little over 7 miles total. Not enough to wear me out, but just enough that when I started running, my quads said, "Um, hello? Yes, hi, um, what's this all about?" By the end of the first mile, though, they were fine. I figured I'd have a slightly slower run - probably averaging an 11:00 - 11:30 pace - but everything felt OK so I didn't worry about it.

I took the 3 miles nice and easy. I didn't really pay attention to my Garmin until I was done, not really wanting to know just how slow I was going. Let's just say I was surprised when I discovered I'd covered 3.1 miles in 30:53.

Huh? Really? That's... one of my faster runs recently, and it certainly didn't feel like I was putting any sort of effort into it. Heck, I was barely breathing heavy when I finished. I know 10 minute miles are getting to be easier for me, but that easy?

Well, heck. Between the fact that I no longer have a bike-related excuse for wussing out of the tri, and the fact that apparently my legs like to follow a bike ride with a run, it looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and figure out this whole "tri" thing. Guess I better start swimming again....

Posted by Dawn at June 29, 2006 08:37 PM

Comments

Dawnie, GREAT JOB! I played around with a few Tri-for-fun events last year and really enjoyed them. I found that I "felt" slow after riding (where the sites are wooshing past you at a much faster rate than running) and then going for a run. In fact, just as you, I was going much faster than I had intended. And it felt easier. I guess because I was already warmed up. I don't know but I sure find it interesting. Best of luck in your tri training.

Posted by: Juls at July 1, 2006 10:59 AM

You are braver than me I could never ride my bike in the bike lanes in Chicago the drivers are way to scary. Best of luck with the training for the tri.

Posted by: nicole at July 2, 2006 10:22 AM