Ahhhh

I'm finally there, that point in the season where I'm starting to feel the gains from the hard work I've put in for the past few months. Where I don't have to think so hard about technique, things are starting to flow and feel natural. Where I feel strong and confident on the bike and smooth in the water. Where I'm still working hard but things are starting to feel a bit easier, as if my body has decided to get with the program and cooperate fully. Where I'm feeling the "athlete" part of triathlete might not be a total misnomer.

This morning at masters we did pace work, my kind of swim workout. The main set was 2 x 100m at pace followed by 200m at the same pace then 3 x 100m at pace followed by 300m at the same pace. I couldn't hit the right pace for the 200m piece but did the 3 100's at 1:50min apiece and, with Paul's words in my ears as a mantra, things clicked into place and I swam the 300m "smooth and strong and efficient" and hit exactly 5:30. I like long continuous swims!

I am in a recovery week and tapering for a race, so relaxed and ready is where I should be. The nice part of being several years into the triathlon lifestyle is that tapers no longer go hand in hand with panic and pre-race nerves. I'm looking forward to the Oliver Half, I'd like to beat my time from last year but if things don't work out as planned then c'est la vie.

I like this place, this is one of the reasons I love training and racing. Think I'll stay here for a while.