Time Trial Success!

So, Febuary is well underway, and time is just flying by. I am REALLY excited about the upcoming race season, and many of my races are quickly approaching!!! This past week was just exceptional in terms of my training. On a side note, I FINALLY got my S-Works Specialized Time Trial bike back after almost a year! I crashed the bike at my first race of 2010 due to poor race planning on part of the race director (mounds of baking flour poured onto the course, including corners, as directional arrows???), and have been waiting on parts ever since. My weapon is back in my possession - BIG SMILE!!!! Swim Coach Lisa had a testing week planned out, which included a 750m time trial. At present, I am doing all of my swim training at the olympic sized pool at the University of San Francisco, which is a really great facility, and I usually get a lane all to myself :)

USF Koret Center Pool

The time trial went excellent! My plan was to focus on my technique, get an effecient rythm going, and to keep strong the entire time. It worked out better than anticipated, and I cranked out a 10min 9 sec effort, which is a huge improvement for me!! Thanks Lisa, and hopefully this continues into the rest of the year. This week also saw a return to the absolute most painful workout for me - mile repeats on the track. I am doing the majority of my run training at Kezar Stadium, which is an awesome venue at the edge of Golden Gate Park, and it often reminds me of a greek stadium. It is free to use the track, and often times, the university cross country team is training there which is great motivation for a triathlete such as myself trying to improve my run.

Kezar Track Entrance

Kezar Track

The cross country team was out in full force during my workout, and were ripping out 200-400meter repeats, while I was working away at my 7x1mile workout. I had an awesome workout, and was able to average 6:15 miles, which is again a really big improvement for myself!! So, things seem to be really coming along for me thus far in 2011.

Another highlight from this week was the TRX training class and whom was teaching it. Tyler Stewart, pro triathlete and Ironman Champion!!! This call was absolutely killer, in the best way possible. As a fellow top level triathlete, she had a complete emphasis on sport specific exercises and I was able to learn alot in the 75minute class. The class is actually scheduled for 60min, but she like to give us extra time :) She is a really awesome person, and I plan on attending the remainder of her 5 part series of classes.

Tyler Stewart - TRX Training Center

The key now is going to be balancing my fitness and training, and remaining energized and injury free!!

Happy training to all, and see you at the races.

Next up - Embarcadero 10km Feb 27.....

Stephen