On the Mend – Week 17
Where did the last three weeks go?
Week 14 – I was in class Monday – Thursday from 8AM to 4PM. The longer commute plus homework each night made morning workouts a myth. I did work out with my trainer all three days though. Friday of that week we flew to San Diego to begin crewing for RAAM.
Week 15 – RAAM – not much sleep, too busy to do anything.
Week 16 – CHEST COLD – Thom thinks we picked up whatever it was that made us sick in the hotel in Annapolis. It was a very musty and damp room. Whatever it was it left me with a low grade fever, chest congestion and blocked sinuses. I did work out with my trainer twice. I’m glad I’m on vacation because I would have used up a lot of sick days and I HATE writing lesson plans.
Week 17 – Still recovering – I have used up ten boxes of Kleenex in the last two weeks. I went out for a short ride on Monday that left me exhausted. Wednesday I decided that I would not do the race I had scheduled for this Sunday – an Olympic distance. I haven’t run since early June and my endurance is not what I’d like it to be on the bike. And who knows what my swimming is like. 
I also went for a ride with my friend Joyce. I was okay for the first 45 minutes, but then my lungs, said, “Okay, we’ve had enough.” It made the decision not to race seem like a very good idea. I did some boxing with Shawna this week on Thursday. That’s always fun. Thom and I took the tandem out today. It took me awhile to get warmed up, but once I did, I felt okay, still a little congested and still coughing.
This week and next, I’m hoping to get in a lot of running. Cycling has left me coughing up a storm, so I haven’t wanted to push myself to run until I was better. We’re heading back East to visit family at the end of this week and taking the bikes. It’s going to need to be a training vacation for me. I’m bringing my running gear and my swim stuff. I’m thinking I need to lower my expectations for doing significantly better this year on my HIM. We’ll see.