Decisions, decisions..

I woke up this morning tired and my legs felt sore, in a good way. I could feel them getting stronger. Yesterday's bike and brick run was just what "the doctor ordered". I needed that, physically and mentally.

I had a downtown meeting this morning and as I parked my truck and walked from the parkade into the building, my legs felt tingly strong. I felt superhuman, wearing normal clothes, yet no one knows that underneath, I'm in "Ironman" shape. There's no greater feeling.

The meeting was LONG and by the time I finished and got back to the office it was 2 pm. All last night and today I was trying to decide on what workout to do. It was a toss up between a run or swim. My first choice was a run, but I was worried about my Achilles after yesterday's bike and run session.

It's physically easier to swim the day after a long bike, than it is to run. After a long ride, your legs are already sore and to run just causes more pain. Yet running after a long bike is ideal training. It stresses your legs to the max and better prepares your body for what it will experience during an Ironman.

I couldn't make up my mind, swim or run? I decided to go home, eat and go from there. I was so tired that I didn't want to do anything. I ate and was lying on the sofa and my legs were tired from yesterday and I was kind of glad my Achilles was sore, it meant I didn't have to do a long run. Although I knew a long run would be most beneficial. Especially with me trying to regain my fitness after my China virus.

I just couldn't make up my mind. Swim or run? I was so tired and being on the "beer wagon", I decided to inject myself with a sugar fix instead, I had "a wagon wheel and two chocolate chip cookies" and they put me right to sleep. When I woke up I was feeling better and continued to contemplate "swim or run?".

Even though the run was harder and put my Achilles in jeopardy, I decided to do a run. But I wasn't sure if I should go for more than an hour. I decided to monitor myself and make my decision during the run.

My Achilles was sore, but not terribly and it was constant throughout the run. Because it wasn't getting worse I decided to run longer. My ideal was to do 2 hours, but I thought "maybe I should only do 90 minutes to be safe". When I got to 90 minutes I had to decide if I should go further.

After MUCH and constant internal debate, I decided to go for the full 2 hours. My body was feeling stressed at 90 minutes but I knew it could take more. My rational is that often the most benefit of a run is in the last 15 minutes, when it starts getting tough. That last 15 minutes provides more benefit that the first 1:45.

If you saw my running route mapped out, it would look like an "etch a sketch". I normally like doing an out and back, it's easier mentally. But because I didn't know how long I was going to go for, it was a haphazard route. Lots of looking at the watch and adding more time, so it was turn here, okay I'll go farther, lets go this way, I'll go father, lets try this way, etc, etc, etc, until I got 2 hours in.

The best part of tonight's run was my heart rate. It was back to lower levels. For the entire run it averaged 138 bpm. It was one of those nice runs, I didn't care about speed and was more concerned about running relaxed and using a stride that would not put to much pressure on my Achilles.

After the run, I knew I made the right choice. However, both my Achilles are a little sore. The strange part is they hurt more when I walk than when I run. I'm hoping that me taking lots of liquids will help them loosen up and improve. My unofficial coach "Gord" called and suggested a multi-vitamin I should be taking, as well as Chromium, to help increase my testosterone. I picked both up on the way home.

Training aside, I finalized my bet with Reid. He has to join a swim club for 3 months, not miss a workout, and I'll give him $1000. I even made a video contract with him. He seems committed and cocky, as you will see on the video.

I also have a bit of a funny Reid story. This past weekend he came downstairs wearing pajamas and this was during the daytime. I asked him "why are you wearing pajamas? It's not night time and where did you get those?".

He told he that he saw them in Wal-mart and had to have them. He's only seen them in the movies and didn't realize they really sold pajamas like that. He thinks they are so cool and he's now wearing them around the house like they're regular clothes and he's "Hugh Hefner".

He's also been asking me if I know where he can get a blue leisure suit from. I'm trying to find him one because I know he'll wear it to school and around the neighbourhood and that would be so funny.

Long Run - 2:01:06 / 23.44 km / 5:10 pace / 138 avg hr