noattentionspan

So, today was a Brick day, it was incredibly successful, and an abject failure at all the same time. Thus is the wonder that is training

The plan was for a 140km bike to be followed by a 30km run. The ride went well with a few minor hiccups. The run started well and went downhill after 10km. Not literally, that would have been nice, figuratively and it wasn’t so nice at all.

The ride started going from South to North Burnaby and going around SFU on the Barnet Highway and out to Port Moody. From there we booted along and out along Ioco and up into the parking turnaround area at White Pine beach which is at Sasamat Lake.

Back out of the lake and down and around Coquitlam before heading over to Pitt Meadows to do the airport loop and then into Maple Ridge and the ride back over the bridge and down the Mary Hill Bypass. We did the Poco Trail (or part of it) before getting onto 7B and through it to United.

Up into New West via 8th and then climbing again to 16th in Burnaby. Imperial out to Fraser in Vancouver, down to Kent and over the Cambie Skytrain Bridge. From there, back to the store. Just a touch over 140km. The pace was mellow and I wasn’t feeling any adverse reaction to the heat or the ride itself.

I even had a chance to try out my new sperm helmet and it was pretty decent. When you twist your head sideways to look back it auto corrects and pushes your head forward and down. And it SOUNDS fast when you get a good flow going by your head. All and all, a good thing. Think faster, be faster, right?

A slow transition and then back over the Queensborough Bridge and west along River Rd. 10km went by nice and smoothly but then all of a sudden I was drained.

I had been having some chest muscle pain since about 4km which had dropped to a dull throb, but my body just couldn’t keep up with the demands I was making on it.

At 13km or so we stopped for a water refill. This was a lifesaver, but if anything it exacerbated the problem the rest of my body was having. No electrolytes, no salt. At the time though, it just didn’t matter, I needed cold or at least luke warm water.

At 14km I knew I was done, it was just a matter of how far I was going to make it before I stopped. Over the Knight St Bridge I was fading fast and everything was coming undone. We met up with George at 18.5km and I said it was over. Then I had more water, felt better for a minute and decided to push through for a bit.

1km later and the only thing keeping me going was the knowledge that George was just ahead and I could finally quit. So, 20km into the run I was done and getting a drive back to the store.

Could I have kept going for the remaining 7km? Not at a run. I would have needed an extended walk break and to be honest, I would have needed some nutrients to do more than a walk/run. So, let’s say no to that eh?

Ah well, I learned a lot:

1. Running 20km yesterday was fun, but stupid
2. Electrolyte supplements are required, not optional
3. Salt pills are critically required, period

By the end of the run my glute was sore, I was still having pains in the chest area. My right calf and quad were both doing light spasms.

Hats off, btw, to Jackie and Aislynn who pushed through the heat and finished the 27km. More than I was doing today!

I’m closer to Ironman today. Damn straight!

Nutrition and Exercise

0615
- Bowl of porridge

0700
- 140km brick ride.
- 1 Gu Chomps
- 1.5 24oz bottles of 1.5 scoop Cytomax (210 cal)
- 1.5 bags of Sharkies (210 cal)
- 1.5 bags Shot Blox
- 1 gel

1330
- 20km brick run.
- 3 gels

1700
- 1l Chocolate Milk
- 1/2 591ml Coke (300 cal)

1800
- Bowl of pasta salad

1845
- Nuun electrolyte tab in water

2000
- 1/2lb burger with cheese (homemade burger, damned good!)