Last week was a minor recovery week.  The Base 1 phase is over and we start ramping up the training.  This week will be 12 hours and next will be 13.  This weekend I do my first long ride of the year at 56 miles.  I wouldn't mind going further if it works out.  With a half IM 2 1/2 weeks away it would be a confidence builder to go further.  The race is not an "A" race so I will not taper more then taking two days off before.  I will get 13 hours of training that week so there is no plan to peak for the thing.  The big news is I will riding a new bike.  I bought an '05 QR Caliente on eBay.  It should arrive next week sometime and I will get a few rides on it before the race.  Having this bike will allow me to concentrate on my aero position for some of my training and still do the group rides (cyclist don't like it when guys show up on TT bikes). 

 

Monday I went out riding with the group from Cyclefit again.  There were 5 guys this time and they were all fast (I know. it is a relative thing).  I did my share of pulling and suffered again on Denton Hill.  Last year I was smoking people on that thing so I am not sure if it was caliber of riders or I am not in that type of shape yet.  Probably both.  I got 42 miles and when I was with the group we were averaging about 21-22 mph so that is pretty respectable for 5 people (3 people doing most of the pulling).   The swimming is going well and I plan on having a lot better swim then I did in Benton Harbor.  I want to be looking at between 35 and 40 mins.  If I get anywhere close to 5 hours in the half iron I will be really happy.