Learning to use tired legs

Every week it seems I learn a new skill/pain/frustration, always something… This weekend, I learned how much I CAN Do on tired legs. It has been a heavy week of training and a tough week emotionally. So after a quick trip to Minneapolis on Friday, I set out on a run in the WI humidity (nothing compared to Louisiana where I grew up but way more humid than normal here). I tried to pick a fun and lively route – which it was, but the week and the weather got to me. I felt sick most of the run, stopped at a park and visited with friends for awhile and then took off for the last 3-4 miles. Well about 4 blocks later I was nauseated, started dry heaves and I decided it was time to trudge home with tears streaming down my face. Not a good warmup for the long brick on Saturday.

Saturday morning everyone met at my house for a 6:30am departure. We started off on our 85 mile bike ride and as we hit the first climb I knew I was in trouble. My legs were DEAD!!! Great! The route included another big climb and I knew that would do me in so I announced I was taking a flatter route to Brice Prairie where we were doing a 26 mile time trial. Since I had been so slow on the climb, we were running behind schedule so everyone went flat with me. We got to Brice Prairie and I tried to refuel before the time trial. First lap was great, but the legs continued to fade on each lap and Angie had to do more pulling and I was barely hanging onto her wheel. We had some laughs out there but it was painful.  I was SOOOO glad to see that finish line. Whew. Lunch was awesome, as usual at BPTT, pork, beans, potatoes and brownies!! Now only 21 miles back to La Crosse and then a 13 mile run…..Argh….

We took a flat but somewhat windy route home, luckily Paul and Angie pulled so I could draft and save some energy. We arrived back at my house and I think everyone was dreading the run. We transitioned and set off for the first 10 minute run. That seemed to take forever! We are all planning on using a 10 minute run followed by a 1 minute walk method for the Ironman run. I felt I could BARELY make those 10 minutes of running and was soooo happy to walk. But wow a 1 minute walk goes quickly. I had forgotten my Garmin, probably a blessing, so I had no idea how fast or slow I was running. We ran from Kwik Trip to Kwik Trip to get water, Gatorade, ice and use the bathrooms. We even used their walk-in Beer Caves to cool down our overheated bodies.

Success was arriving back at my house for a celebratory round of Chocolate Milk. We had successfully biked 83 miles and run 12 miles. All of us, were thrilled to not only be done, to have completed the workout but amazed by our average paces especially on the run. I was thrilled with mine, just over 15 mph on the bike and less than 10 min per mile on the run. Way better than I thought I would do that morning! In fact, yesterday climbing up Cty YY I didn’t know if my leges would get me to the top of the hill, much less finish 95 miles in just over 7 hours of moving time and just under 9 hours of elapsed time!

As I have said before, I am amazed at what my legs can do! Now I am amazed at what they can do Tired!!! It may not always be fast; it certainly isn’t always pretty and my attitude is not always positive – but it is Always Moving Forward and that is what I must do Keep Moving Forward…. and let my tired achy legs do their thing because They Can!