r-b-r brick.

yesterday was my last go-hard-or-go-home-exhuasting-sweaty-give-it-all-you've-got workout before taper [madness].

I left for the B&A trail around 8:00 a. Can I just say how much I love my Rocket Science Sports transition bag? [and no, I don't work for them/ am not sponsered by them ... or, um, anyone!]. It fits everything so perfectly. It was pricey, but if you are in the market for a new transition bag -- totally worth it.

The plan, per my BT sked:
run 9K
bike 1h 20m
run 9k hard + fast

kilometers? what is this, England? [or any other part of the world? ha]

oh, and I wore my fancy new jersey ! yay for eBay!

RUN
49m 18s
5.05 miles
09m 46s/Mi
8:30 AM

nice and slow and easy. surprisingly, this is only the second time I've trained on the B&A. it's a very nice trail - paved, many shady parts, pretty long (14 mi one way). I wish I had brought water with me -- I was getting really thirsty even though it wasn't that warm or humid.

BIKE
2h 15m 02s
32.20 miles
14.31 Mi/hr
9:30 AM

there is something wrong w my front brake - it's rubbing against the wheel and I an't tweak it. no biggie though - I'm getting my bike packed up on tuesday by my LBS and I'll have them tune it up. anyhow, I felt really good in aero ! I'm still a weenie when it comes to turning / going downhill in aero but I'm getting better. sort of. there were a fair amount of people out but everyone - even the little kids - seemed to know the rules of the road ... stay on the right, pass on the left, etc.

<>I was shocked at how many people weren't wearing helmets. I know of quite a few people that would have split their heads open if not for a helmet. yes, it's a trail, no traffic, etc. but you never know. < / rant >.

I still need to figure out what I'm going to do for hydration at RI70.3. I only have one water bottle holder on and because my bike has such a small frame - 48 - it's a btich to get the bottle in and out of the holder. I think I'll have my LBS put on rear mounted water bottle holders. I can put my concentrated Infinit in one and water in the other, and then just refill with water at aid stations.

It was kind of lonely riding by myself but I figure that I'll have a few solitary long rides in training for IMCOZ and I should just get used to it.

RUN
52m 46s
6.15 miles
08m 35s/Mi
12:00 PM

I got off of the bike and changed out my shoes for the third part of this brick. I always feel so awkward and slow off of the bike but I'm actually faster... maybe because of the cadence on the bike? maybe because muscles are warm?

This was a really. hard. run. I had a 20 oz. water bottle but had to stop at mile 2.75 at a KFC to refill it. I kept a 8:30-8:40 pace and I was tired and hot and exhuasted but I pushed it and kept thinking KMF(keep moving forward - my motto) until the end.

Home and inhaled whatever food wasn't nailed down. I realized on my way home that I needed new running shoes and went to my LRS to get a new pair of Asics Gel Nimbus 11. and then I slept. for quite a few hours.

and now: let taper madness begin !