Tri-Dogmom

I can't believe I'm actually writing a post about an indoor bike trainer.  Ever since I started cycling, about 12 years ago, I've loathed the trainer.  Sure a good sweat fest spin class can be fun, but I've always stood firm that nothing beats getting out there on the road.  We purchased a cycleops fluid trainer and had it for a good 8 years, but I averaged like once a year on that thing.  I never felt like I got a good workout, and it just didn't feel  right.  I didn't like the clunky feel and it just wasn't like being on the road.   Not to mention, we live in Arizona and while we might not have huge big green evergreens to look at, there is something about being out on your bike looking at views like this... And, let's be honest.... with the exception of our insane summers when you have to get up at 4 am to ride and Jan-Feb when it's "cold and dark," we pretty much have it made here year round.  When I signed up for my first Ironman

I started working with my first athlete in January.  It's been a fun, interesting and totally huge learning experience.  As I sit down every week to write his schedule, I try to think a lot about goals, short term and long, where this person is at in their fitness build and what we need to do to build on that. With that, I find myself thinking about what I want them to be focusing on for each workout.  What would I  be doing if I were doing this set: what should my HR be, pacing, all the way down to which routes (locally) would be best.  It's fun and I think (at least I hope) it's helpful to the athlete that I am over analyzing and thinking everything right now. Within the next few weeks I will have 3 athletes I'm coaching.  Two with Ironman goals, one a total newbie to the sport, but with ambition and long term goal of doing an Ironman.  They each lead very busy lives, and my main goal is to help them fit their training into their lives in the most effective way. I