Not a bad week, even though it should’ve been

TL;DR

• Progress
• Fantastic Voyage call-out
• A deliberate red card
• Bad weather
• Why not an even bigger goal?
• Next week

Progress

As I write this (March 30) there are 168 days, exactly 24 weeks to Barrelman. My Chronic Training Load (TrainingPeaks’ single-number estimate of my fitness) is 10% higher than last week, 100% higher than at New Year’s. Logged 7 workouts in 4 days for 4 h 38′. Covered 29 miles (most of that virtual). TrainingPeaks gave me a Training Stress Score of 252 and identified 11 Peak Performances. And I had my longest run (even it was really a walk/run) in 11 months.

“The ultimate in introspection”

That’s what the internist told me at my first colonoscopy 32 years ago. Every 5 years, more or less, I’ve had one, without incident. So I guess I’ll have another in 2030, if I’m still around (which I fervently hope).

My week has been particularly pleasing precisely because the prep for and recovery from the scope is pretty tough. Thursday, the day after, my HR during my two workouts was awful high. But I did it.

A deliberate red card

I have friends who think you do every workout set. I kind of agree, but not always. My coach had set an easy walk/run two days after my colonoscopy. But Thursday’s workouts left me whacked, so I quite deliberately took TrainingPeaks’ red card so I’d be ready for the weekend—and I was proved right.

“More rides are ruined by bad weather forecasts than by bad weather”

A randonneur told that to me twenty-some years ago, and he was right. We had a horrific weather forecast; we were under a Freezing Rain Warning, with centimetres of accumulation possible. It seemed like my hope and goal of riding outside for the first time in 2025 was not safe for Saturday.

In the event, of course, Saturday was cool and wet, but not scary—until late in the afternoon. Sunday’s early-morning walk saw lots of slipperiness.

Thinking big—er, too big?

I clipped the following from James Lawrence’s memoir of his Conquer 100 (doing a hundred Ironman-length triathlons in 100 days):

Friends can attest that since I finished Ironman Florida in 2009 I’ve wanted to do another. To a certain extent I’ve been unlucky. And here I am, thundering to my 72nd birthday, but, you know, I still want to do another. So here’s my goal beyond my goal. First, let me finish a half-Ironman under the cutoff. Then, let’s push toward a full Ironman, with the goal just to finish under the cutoff.

As I remarked last week I don’t think U.S. events are in my future until the Administration’s attitude to Canada and Canadians improves, and I don’t think an overseas trip is practical. That leaves Ironman Canada, a 5½hr drive from home, in a city I know very well. I haven’t told my coach; she’ll read it here first.

To be very very clear this is the stretchiest of stretch goals. Let’s get through the half-Ironman first. But I can see it, a glittering prize, like a mountain, in the distance.

Next week

5 workouts in 5 days, but the long ride and long run (not so long by others’ standards but still) are the longest yet in this macrocycle. I’m also getting some fillings on my rest day, but my new dentist seems really skillful. Pretty much looking forward to a good week (not to the fillings).