Back to Swimming and Spinning

It was sure nice to wake up at a reasonable 6AM this morning.  The alarm still went off at 5, but I shut it off without barely thinking.  Odd thing: I would wake up from a dream an hour later in which I found myself in a screwy situation, being chastised by a friend but turning the tables with a sound argument.  As I woke up, I was kind of struck by how reasonable and sane my counter argument was.  Normally, my dreams are nonsensical and absurd, and the scenario of the dream certainly was just that.  But somehow, I was actually in the midst of a cogent defense that was still so upon  examination after waking.  I don't know.  I just thought that was atypical of how dreams -- at least those I can recall - usually go.

After a busy morning at work, I hit the gym for a good 2 hours.  First, I got back into the water -- finally -- and did two sets of 500 yards.  The first was just a quick paced 10-lap set, free.  I was surprised at how exhausted I got.  The first 200 yards were okay, but the remainder was a struggle.  I know it's been awhile, but I've really lost a lot of my swimming conditioning.  I did the second 500 pulling a buoy, and that was more comfortable.  Once again, I'm amazed at how much energy and oxygen is consumed just from the leg activity in the freestyle stroke.  I like swimming because it hires more of the body than running does, and by taking the legs out  and swimming with the buoy, it gives my back, chest, arms and core and good workout.  It just doesn't burn as many calories.  I felt almost meditative during that 2nd 500 yard set.

Normally, I'd do 3 sets, but was short on time before the noon spin class was to start up, and I figured that 1000 was good enough re-introduction and I'll put in a stronger effort next time.  After a quick shower, I joined Renee's class just in time, and it was noted that I hadn't been seen in awhile.  I wanted to brag that I'd been running instead and had just completed the marathon, but I didn't.  They can think me a slacker if they want.

Man, was the class hard.  Lots of climbing and high tempo work, mostly out of the saddle.  I was pretty much done after 45 minutes.  I started to ease off on the last two songs but was able to gut it out.  Like swimming, the cycling motion is sufficiently different that despite all the running, I am really out of condition when it comes to the other tri disciplines.  I'm hoping to change that during this summer.

I briefly thought about hitting the treadmill for a 5K run, just to complete the pseudo-in-gym-triathlon, but I thought better of it, and needed to get back to my desk anyway.  No run today, other than whatever it is we do this evening, Quin and me.  I'm hoping to chuck work a tad early so that we can get over to Penasquitos and check out the station/path around Hilltop Park.  There's one in Scripps Ranch too, but if the Hilltop course is good, it's closer and more convenient and I'd like to encourage Quin by getting out there a couple times a week during the summer.  Too bad 4S Ranch doesn't have a Par Course. (Or does it?)