End of winter training...well-timed!

So, at least my plan is working out, even if I'm not working out the plan.

My annual training plan says winter training ends this weekend, timed with the beginning of Idaho State University spring break. Suprisingly, spring sprang this week with some really nice temperatures. And I got in my first open water swim today...not in Idaho but in California at Camp Pendleton, where it was sunny, 70 degrees, and little wind. Anyway...

The past two weeks provided a great transition period from winter training to spring training. I got the bike outside a couple of times, and I got in the OWS today. I ran in shorts and a t-shirt twice last week on one of the warmer days of 45-50 degrees. Woohooo! But I also ran in the morning with pants and jacket a few times because it's still cold when it's dark. I also did a bike race, one of the ICE 10k TTs on a Sunday afternoon two weeks ago...I didn't know it was a race until I got there....I thought it was just a group ride of some sort (which I've never done, either).

Anyway, now it's time to turn up the intensity. My dog isn't going to like that much, because she's getting old and can't do much faster than a 9:30 mile. Paul might like it because I'll start pushing him more outside; he loves being outside! I won't get to swim in Idaho until the start of May, although I'm thinking I might try it towards the end of April just to see how early I can actually do it.

The only problem I have now is that the sun still isn't up til 6:45am or so, so I can't ride outside in the morning. That leaves me on the trainer in the morning and then a possible afternoon ride. That means I'm screwing with the trainer alot, which I'm not particularly fond of because it's harder than it really should be to get on and off the trainer.

I really need to turn up the intensity on the running ALOT. I'm just been jogging along at 8:30 miles all winter. I might have endurance, but my lactate threshhold is sure to be fairly low. But I can feel the endurance increases from the 9-10 mile runs.

ICE TTs:
The Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts bike club hosts two very informal race series each year. One is a 10k TT on a nice fairly flat section of road, although the wind can blow pretty hard (30-40mph) on this section fairly regularly. There is also a hill climb up local Scout Mountain, about five miles and 2,500feet. I'm planning on doing alot of those races, as much as a "cost-to-race" money-saver as a training method. I also want to get to know a few more people who bike. I'm very much a lone biker, which is ok for what and when I train, but it will be cool to meet some new folks and extend my horizons a bit. Like I said, the races are very informal, almost a show-n-go type thing but with a manual timer and some results, and the results get tallied at the end of the series to see who won. I'm certainly not there to win; maybe I'll see if I can't get last while I learn something and meet some people.

I'm looking forward to a good, well-balanced summer of events. It doesn't include the races I really want to do, but I'll certainly expand my horizons.