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Though I have heard cyclists knock triathletes upon occasion, I have only funned them for their fashion habits, not their training. Now that I have survived the first month of my bi (cycle) to tri (athlete) transition I have full respect. This three-sport stuff is no joke, and I can still drop you on the bike!

You can NOT make fun of a 4h30 ride @ 33km/h with 4×20 min race pace, a run of 90 minutes and swimming 1h45. This is not a week’s training, it’s DAY. Yeah, I know, it’s enough to scare the hair out of your armpits, and turn your hair into green straw. (Yes I am gradually joining the ranks of fashion offenders.)

Sean and I trained a butt-s off.

When in Tucson make sure that you head to Metropolis the Salon for your hair cutting/ waxing, and pedi/manicure needs. The atmosphere is truly unique, Heck, go for coffee if you don’t have hair.

Super hostes Linda Levene cooked as many cookies as we could eat. Nothing like coming home one shade of cracked beyond shattered, from 4h of training and a 1h45 run looming on the horizon, to find 3 dozen fresh cookies cooling on the counter. On days like this the small things were really big. Of course now with the decreased training volume, diet will have to fall back into line… but it was fun. Thanks Linda and Allen.

Also with the Personal Best / C3 Training Camp being held in Tucson I got my first crack at hands on coaching. I liked it, I’ve got some refinements coming for the next camps. It all seemed pretty good, and the ‘campers’ were truly an amazing group.

The world of elite triathletes is even smaller than that of the cyclist, and I’ve got a toe in there now. Some new acquaintances are:

Kathy Tremblay – a super cool French Canadian world cup Studette. You can’t imagine a larger smile. She was so excited to see us (well Sean to talk) that she jumped OUT of the pool to talk. No she’s not single, and no she’s not dating me.

The next one … well classic. We’re watching a muscular guy who’s thrashing around in the pool, but doing a decent speed. With my newly renovated swim stroke I make a note of how hard this guy is going.
Lifeguard Ashley (my only social interaction save the yellow line and cactus thorns) tells me that he is two time world champion.
Yours Truly: Sure, in ‘modern pentathlon, or windsurfing, or age group 50 plus’ I say with perhaps a hint of scorn. ‘But not something involving swimming’
LA: I think his first name is Spencer…. “Spencer, what’s your last name?’
Spencer: Smith, Boring old Smith (said with British accent)
YT: Shit, he’s 3 time Elite/ PRO world champion, not two!!! At Triathlons
LA: you owe me a beer.
YT: Beeeeeroww (editors note: atta boy buddy, keep talking without thinking and we’ll have plenty to write about).

With the challenge of packing 2 cars worth of our junk into Sean’s trusty 4runner looming, we decided that procrastination by way of a night out on the town was in order. Fast forward to the Waffle House at 3:30am and we’ve come to the conclusion that the best female bodies in town in-fact belong to cross dressing men. (photo’s to follow)

Now that I have spent 2 days sitting in the car. Thanks go out to Danielle Super Sprinter Re-incarnate for housing in Houston, I owe you a lead out! I am recovered from that very high training volume block, and chomping at the bit to start going fast. Appropriately the first race is a tester of sorts this coming Sunday.

Should the others racers beware, or will I be back to the training blocks? Stay tuned…

Some of the gear has shown up for this season. I’ll do a full review once it’s all in, but here’s what I have tested.
-Salt Stick anti-cramping, pro-endurance pills. They work, period. Check the nifty dispenser.
-Sable Water Optics swim goggles have shown up. We’re using the ‘racing’ version, but they work perfectly for training as well. Optics and fit are superior.

A ‘rest day’ run, bike and hike 4h! The water was cold!

Atop Mt Lemmon, where the 7 falls stream starts.
The story got picked up over at C3 as well.