Woke up bright and early Tuesday morning, reset the 112 miles on my bike computer and headed out for my first ride on my tri bike since IM. Felt great, then again it was 25 miles, about 100 less then my ride right before IM and 87 less then my last ride on this bike. That’s the beauty of training for a sprint distance tri. Training? Really? Can I even call this training…..let’s agree to just call it a treat. Ride was a POC and then onto the run in yet again a new pair of sneakers…..drum roll please, I’m in the Mizuno Wave Rider. 4 miles into these babies and they are feeling fine so far, we’ll see what the future brings. Long day in my practice on Tuesday, coupled with my treat-like training and I was feeling the burn. It was a welcomed visit from an old friend. Tuesday confirmed that I am ready to be back.

Another early day today, up for masters at 5:45. I’m a mastas lova, simply put, I dig it. Of course, swimming masters in Boulder in the summer brings a whole cast of characters. Today was Desiree Ficker - last weekend it was basically Bejing olympians, reigning world champion, IM winners and a bunch of other chumps that continually kicked my ass from several lanes away. Good stuff, noone appreciates a good ole’ass whooping like me. I love the challenge and the innate drive to continue even though you can’t breath, you can’t keep up and you certainly can’t rest so you never really know anything about the sets except for SWIM…..SWIM…..SWIM FOR YOU LIFE LITTLE GIRL!

Tomorrow is the last stroke and stride of the season - looking forward to racing the swim a bit and see what I’ve got in me. Although after masters today, my arms are feeling like el’dente capellini.

This weekend brings 30 hours of in depth education on inflammation and injury rehab. Can’t wait to overload my brain with some serious phagocytosis.

P.S. I got in trouble tonight in class because I wore my holiday dress and the teacher accused my of breaking the ‘no cleavage’ rule.  Without hesitation and with much exuberance I said, ‘I have cleavage?!!!  I’m so excited, I can’t wait to tell my husband’.  I was then told that my dress was inappropriate for massage….sports bra and all.  I guess I owe a big apology to all of my clients and to Mrs. DeBoom, you have certainly succeeded in bringing sexy back!

Back to training today - first long run, 8 miles. Seemed like a alot to jump back into but I felt really good.  I knew I would feel it more later so I had to take extra time to recover today.

Met up with Petra at 6am at Davidson Mesa Trail in Louisville.  Great little 3.2 mile loop, beautiful views and gorgeous sunrise.  By 6:30 we felt the oven start to heat up.  We did the loop twice then I went back out to finish my mileage.   Solid stretching session afterwards, recovery drink, iced the ankle and soaked in a hot bath.

I’m psyched for another bout of marathon training.  I can’t wait for those beautiful fall days and long ass runs.