WIBA Rocked!!!

Last week started the "Competitive Phase" of my training. The idea is to build on the general fitness that I've been gaining over the last months and work that fitness into a race ready mind and body.

Here's my breakdown for the week. With WIBA coming up at the weekend, I moved some workouts around to be good to go in Madison.

Mon., 6/22: Endurance swim, well, that's what the training plan calls it. For me, not so much. Even pushing the set of 3x800 yard swims, it was a pretty mild workout. 2800 yards total.

Tues., 6/23: Long steady swim in the AM: 3000 yards. Hill intervals on the trainer in the PM: 14 miles.

Weds., 6/24: Double brick. 2 x (15 mile bike + 2 miles run).

Thurs., 6/25: Another swim day. 3050 yards. But picking up the D6 was the high point of the day! Peter had everything ready in time for my trip up to Madison. He put in a lot of time with me to make sure everything was adjusted and fitted just so. Thursday night was gear pack time for WIBA. Like most tri dorks, I'm completely over the top about making sure I have the right stuff packed and in the right spot in my bag, on my bike, in the cooler, packed in the truck, etc. And then once everything is packed, I double and triple check --- just to be sure.

Fri., 6/26: After work, I drove to Madison for the start of WIBA!!! We met at the Coliseum bar/restaurant for a weekend overview, course talk, and pasta dinner. It was a fun evening. I met a lot of really nice people. The discussions were a bit of group therapy in that it's nice to know others have the same worries that I have. Probably the best advice from some of the veterans was to not focus on your watch, your splits, etc. Take each part of the race as it comes, keep pushing on, enjoy the day, and get to the finish line.

Sat., 6/27: We started the day off with a little swim. We swam lake in Lake Monona from the Olin Park Beach. Jokingly, we were not really swimming, but rather pulling ourselves along through the weeds. The water was nice and warm. Overall a nice start to the day.

A quick change into bike gear and off to Fireman's Park in Verona for the bike. Rob had donned his Univ. of Wisconsin cycling jersey, so I felt compelled to pull out my University of Michigan jersey. I biked one full loop of the bike course (the race is two loops with an out and back from/to Madison). I can say for certain had I not seen the course, I would be a dead man come September. There are lots of rolling hills, some technical descents, and four real climbs. I would have liked to ride two loops, but I was a little saddle sore from the new bike. The new bike rode extremely well. I just need some more saddle time to get used to it. I'm planning a few more trips to Madison to train on the course. After the bike, I did get in about a five mile run while others were completing their second loop of the bike course. I even had time to blast back to the hotel to shower and destinkify before we grilled out.

After a good day of training, I was hungry. Burgers, brats, dogs, BBQ potato chips, and a couple frosty adult beverages hit the spot. Again the highlight was enjoying the camaraderie of the other folks there. It was a great day!

After dinner, I headed back to the hotel and squared away my gear from the day and prepped my gear of Sunday. A quick dip in the jacuzzi, beer in hand of course, and I was ready to sleep hard.

Sun., 6/28: We met a Monona Terrace (where the IM magic happens) for a review of the transitions and then headed off for a run on the run course. The course if two half-marathon loops, so most of us ran one loop. I, along with a few others, got a little lost on the course, but managed to make our way back to the Terrace and essentially got the miles in we wanted. I can't wait to see the great Madison crowds on the run course I heard so much about. From what I gather, the crowd energy helps to will you to finish line... I might need that.

After the run, I headed back to the hotel to clean up and head home. Others went out to Endurance House for some run clinics, stride analysis and shopping.

What a great weekend! Beautiful weather. Wonderful people. Great training. Even if I don't sign up for IM Madison next year, I'm still going to WIBA. It's that much fun (in the sick way only tri dorks understand). And anyone who it planning to come to IM Madison without going to WIBA is tempting fate. It's must do training.

Thanks to Rob and everyone who helped put WIBA 2009 on.
You Rock!