Getting ready for Florida

several months ago i was trying to create a race plan for this summer and thought that starting the season off with an early race would be a great thing to do. well don't get me wrong, i am very excited to start the season about 6 weeks earlier than last year. however, when i was making the schedule i apparently forgot about one key factor. THE WEATHER. unfortunately, in chicago, the weather is pretty much guaranteed to be unpredictable (read: awful) until sometime in may. well now it is may and the weather is finally getting better.

today i was able to get outside on a nice long ride. a 60 mile ride up and down the lakefront path with relatively little traffic. the winds were relatively calm and even though the weather channel was convinced that the wind was coming out of the south i am pretty convinced that whatever wind was present was coming from the north.

i looked that the forecast for the next 10 days for orlando....yeah, this is going to be interested. so here in chicago it has been nice and cool. my ride today was probably around 65 degrees. beautiful riding temp, nice sun. anyway, orlando, 90 degrees. so in an attempt to acclimate to the heat today i wore what i thought would be some extra clothes...nope, just enough to keep me at the right temp.

so i am still plotting my last week of training before florida. not much time for bricks, i will just have to take it as it comes.

but the good news is that i have hit all of my milestones. i got up to 12 miles running last weekend, outside riding 60 miles this week (not including the 100 mile ride last weekend in california), and have overswam the distance several times.

speaking of last weekend, i had a great ride with my sister. the chico wildflower is a 100 mile ride (or at least pretty close to 100) that is generally a flat ride with 3 climbs. i really had a lot of fun going up the hills. i can definitely say that the time that i have spent on the trainer this winter has really made a difference. i forgot my HRM but i can tell you that i generally felt really good climbing. but, i will say that going downhill on a bike that is not mine is not a fun experience. i had a great time out there riding and hanging out with my sister.

my training plans again got screwed up for this week. i need to get back in the pool, hopefully will find some time tomorrow. have stuff to do in the morning, then going to the cubs game in the afternoon with grandpa. i think the weather will be perfect.

i'm watching the replay of the 70.3 world championships in clearwater last november. it is good motivation to get excited about florida in just under 2 weeks.

another run or two, (although nothing too long) another couple medium rides, hopefully a couple of swims and then a mini taper on my way down to florida.