Tired and Frustrated

Getting a bit frustrated with training.  Friday was a throw away.  I ended up not doing any training.


I did discover a delicious quick snack/salad.  Cut up a slice of bacon (I usually do uncured thick sliced bacon), throw it on the stove, low heat.  Once the fat gets off the bacon, throw cooking greens in there (spinach etc mix) and mix it up a bit until they get soft.  Eat.


Today would be my first real attempt at a transition...I was planning to do a swim/bike but we'll get back to that.


Breakfast:

• Grilled cheese with eurostyled cured ham
• http://www.foodforlife.com/product-catalog/ezekiel-49/breads/120C6-organic-sprouted-whole-grain-flourless-bread
• I've been buying this bread because the sprouted business is supposed to get rid of "anti-nutrients" and such:
• http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/living-with-phytic-acid
• I think there's enough literature out there and good enough arguments against whole grains for me to avoid it.  Apparently rye and sourdough are good...and for good measure using a lot of real butter and cheese offsets calcium leaching and such.
• Trying out the cured ham, it was okay, dry...but the authentic imported stuff was $10 a pound...seriously.
• Shot of kefir because I have some left.  It's good as a snack I guess...but I think I'll be sticking with yogurt.

This morning I woke up and prepped:

• 2 squeeze bottles
• 1 with a scoop of sugar:
• http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_shot_electrolyte/
• I might look into something that has a little protein...because during the event I think I'll need it.
• Once your body gets hungry it'll start breaking down muscles for energy...having a small supply of protein is supposed to help.  It's in the running book.
• 1 just water
• I need to eat on the bike...I get way too hungry and those who know me...
• Any type of eating requires water for digestion...especially sugar or else you get all messed up.
• 32 oz Nalgene bottle with sugar.
• This is for the transition...I'll refill my water bottle.
• 750ml bottle of water, I like drinking out of glass bottles.  Extra water is always needed, plus I needed water for the drive and stuff.
• Last batch of Hawaiian bread for immediate post workout eating
• (3) bananas (apparently I can't spell bananas but fortunately google saves me from embarrassment) for immediate post workout eating
• Swimming shorts on my body
• Normal t-shirt
• Biking/running shorts.  I don't wear diapers (padded shorts).
• Jersey or as someone called it..."deep cut v-neck" (it has a zipper).
• Tank for running if the jersey gets too hot.
• Jeans and normal shoes (might meet up with buddy after).
• Handful of bars:
• http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_mojo/
• I like the chocolate ones...
• 3 of these will be in my jersey
• Handful of shotbloks:
• 3 of these will be in my jersey

If you haven't noticed...I'm scared of being hungry...being hungry when you're far away from anything and on a bike is a miserable feeling and it's really tough to recover from.

Load up the bike and off I go to the Y.  Plan is to swim for about an hour and ride for 4 for a total of 5 hours of activity.  I estimate around 5000 calories to be burned.

Anyways, anticlimactic but I get to the Y and they have swimming lessons, all 4 lanes are taken up...fml.  I take a breath and cry to myself about the thought of trying to bike 4 hours and then run an hour.

Change/load up and set out.

Workout:

• 52 miles / 15.2 mph / 5500 ft elevation gain
• Yes, I see I'm slow...but I have a few excuses I'm willing to live with:
• Connecticut cannot take care of their roads, it's terrible...don't ever move here if you're wondering where your tax dollars are going.  Here's a hint, they've hired a police officer for every minority who lives in CT.
• The elevation gain was a bit more significant than I thought, add to it the fact that I couldn't speed downhill because of the horrendous road conditions...
• The first part of my ride was completely honked up.  Connecticut FAILS again and squanders an awesome opportunity to have a nice state park next to the city.  Instead they let trees eat and takeover an entire road.
• Yes, I was short of the 4 hour goal by...30 minutes...give me a break.
• Transition was slow of course...but I set out and fell flat after a mile.  I couldn't get my heart rate down and I think the heat was getting to me.  Instead of trying to be a badass I called it quits and walked back.  Here's my thoughts on that.
• I don't push through anything, especially when I'm feeling tired...
• Why?  Your brain is saying WTF, stop?  Plus pushing through will only make me feel like crap later and recovery will take forever.  I pretty much do what I'm comfortable with.  Anyways you can't keep pushing through fatigue for hours at a time, I think you should always refocus your efforts to prevent crashing.

Anyways, after I got back to my car I crushed 3 bananas and 6 Hawaiian rolls.  During my ride I had 2 shot blocks and 2 bars...calorie count:

Immediately after workout:

• Sugar water: ~200
• Bloks: 400
• Bars: 400
• HI Rolls: 6x9 = 540
• 3 bananas = 300
• Total: 1840 calories
• Calories burned: ~2500 calories

So I got in about half of my calories immediately after my workout...

Post-workout meal:

• 2 venison sausages w/ potatoes and greens w/ 2 beers

How I feel? Pretty tired, I'm not sure if the heat got to me...I'm tired.  I really didn't want to write this.