This morning is a great example of a remarkable training. I requested to Coach Marcelo to make my workouts a bit more demanding as I am getting nervous to hit the hills in less than 4 weeks! I am not sure if flat Florida will ever get me ready, but Coach Marcelo heard me and certainly tried to reproduce San Francisco in warm sunny SFL. This morning, I completed 12 bridge repeats (including 1 warm up and 1 cool down) off the saddle.
The warm up bridge was entertaining with the team. I was
able to catch up with my IronMan Beto. After the bridge, the group went on to
carry on their interval workout and I turned around unaccompanied to take on
the “Miami hill”. The first main set bridge was extremely challenging. I was able
to complete the elevation off the saddle only partially. I had to slow down for
a few seconds to catch my breath. You don’t have to know me well to know how much
of a disappointment it was. However, I was not going to let one bridge be a set
back I looked around and there was nothing but the deep blue of the sky. The
sun was about the rise and the world about the begin but there I was, alone
with the bridges. No other triathlete to divert the pain and encourage me.
Where was my strength? Going down the bridge at 32+mph, I felt the excitement
and thought of what I always preach before a race: “It is all mental”. I found
my inner force and completed all 9 remaining (main set) bridges off the saddle,
some stronger than others, but I did conclude the workout with a solid positive
feeling!
