Training Tuesday: Two Strikes

Rest day things: Pizza, beer, conversation

Triathlon training is the perfect analogy for life: you get out what you put in. Some days are great, some days aren't. We all get the same amount of time, it's just a matter of what you do with it.

This week has given me some very high highs and very low lows.

I took a rest day Friday to get a bunch of stuff around the house done. Then Saturday, I took off for a long brick workout. I had a lovely 46-mile bike ride out to and back to where I did my first marathon. I kept an overall speed of 14.5 miles per hour, which is fine since I had to slow down for lights. I immediately went out for a 3.5-mile run at a 9:16 pace. It was hot and I was parched, but otherwise felt good.

Brunch at Yolk

On Sunday, I met Lauren and Katie at Ohio Street Beach for an open water swim. It was the first time I had to wait for a locker, but it was considerably more pleasant than my last swim there June 1. We had a post-swim brunch at Yolk. Learn from my mistakes: the pancakes are meh ... the red velvet French toast is dreamy.

Ohio Street Beach

My Monday morning trainer ride was nothing to write home about - 35 miles on the trainer with 16 rounds of 2 minutes of high effort followed by 45 seconds of recovery.

Insert badass scar here

Then the wheels came off last night.

If I'm honest with myself, it started yesterday afternoon. I took a brief walk at lunch and felt a bit dizzy, but it passed. In the evening I set out for a six-mile run and immediately felt off. I tried to convince myself it was some kind of runner's high. It wasn't. I was dizzy, discombobulated and felt like I was watching myself through a first-person video game. I was also slow as molasses. I made it less than two miles before I called Tim to come and retrieve me, then ate all the foods and drank a ton before going to bed early.

Then this morning, I earned my first CrossFit injury. The workout involved pushing a weighted sled, then jumping onto a 20-inch plywood box. My legs felt dead after pushing the sled, but I made it a few rounds before I fell short on the box and crashed my shin into the side. I was wearing tall socks, but my skin came off when I peeled off the socks. It hurt when it happened, but I stuck a paper towel on it and finished the workout. Then promptly googled "Do I need stitches?"

So tonight, I'm forgoing the second workout. Alyssa and I will eat sushi and I will not think about the training I should be doing. Because homegirl needs a break. Two strikes and I'm out.