Training hell has begun!

[Triathlete]

Day 5 Dec.30 '08
Another day with sweet weather...high of 75 and sun-sweet-shine!
Though it started in the 40's. Woke up with legs feeling like lead. But they quickly started feling good during the mornings 1 hour run on the Pima College cross country trail affectionately known as "The Gauntlet". Lots of hills...up and down...not so much flat! After a short rest we mounted our bikes and went for a quick 2 hour blast up Oracle road which took us just short of the town of Catalina. Traffic was a bit on the heavy side but the views of the west side of the Catalina Mountains was great uder the sunny blue skies. Then it was back to my home to quickly get ready for work.

Lisa, the area near the base of Mt. Lemmon has seen some serious development. There is not a lot of area there for dirt bikes any longer. I have been here 35+ years and there was only 250,000 people here then...we are now over 1 million! However if you head just a little east of there to the Reddington area there is lots of great trails for riding and wheeling!

More "fun" tomorrow!

[Triathlete]

Day 6 Dec.31 '08
The last day of 2008 served up another day of beautiful Arizona weather...clear skies and 74 degrees. Tucson is a training oasis. The training on the other hand is not nearly as nice. The legs again felt like lead when I woke early this morning. A quick bowl of oat meal and then it was off to the Tucson Mountains to run the rockey, hilly, sandy 10 mile Yetman trail loop. Another trail with awesome scenery in which I have logged a few thousand miles over the years. The legs actually came alive and felt good for most of the run. The last long climb at the end of the trail took its tole though...man did it hurt. Another 1 hour 20 minutes of running to add to the total talley. After returning home and downing 5 eggs scrambled with cheese it was off for a 2 hour bike ride. Hills were in the future with climbs through Starr Pass followed by Gates Pass and then some rollers on the way home. More food and then it was off to work...another 8 hours on the feet!

3 more days of fun to go...of course once camp is over I still have a lot of training on the books. In case anyone is wondering, all this is to get ready for a race that is in November of '09...Ironman Arizona!

[CrnCnn]

Keep it going Billy. I wish I had motivation to get after it, I am way out of shape.

My wife is in Tucson and keeps me updated plenty on the weather, just to rub it in.

[VCrossfan]

So it's going to be a day by day post until November 09 ?? lol

[Triathlete]

So it's going to be a day by day post until November 09 ?? lol

Hmmm! I hadn't thought of that!

[Triathlete]

Day 7 Jan.1 '09
The new year started with another sun filled cloudless sky and high temp 75! An early morning 50 minute run got the blood flowing. Nothing exceptional about the run...it was just a run. That was followed up with a 2 hour 45 minute bike. The route today could best be described as a rollercoaster...up and down and up and down and up.... Climbed Starr Pass followed by Gates Pass and then did a few loops through the Saguro National Park west. More spectacular desert scenery and perfect weather. Looking forward to tomorrow...it is sort of an easy day!

[Triathlete]

Day 8 Jan.2 '09
Another great day of weather! Got a bit of reprive from the training. It was an easy day...35 minute run and then a 1 hour 20 minute bike through Starr Pass and then home.
Of course there is a reason for the easy day...tomorrow is going to be painfull!