Skills/Skills/Skills
What a weekend. All skills. Mike Heitz of the USA National Junior Team came down to Texas all the way from Colorado to inspire 11 of us from all over the country. He taught us skills, he taught us how to lead skill clinics. It was awesome. And, of course, I asked him about coming down for a mountain biking skills clinic. He said he would love to, but his last helper knew all the in’s and out’s of mountain biking but wasn’t much of a teacher. This guy is great!
I can’t wait to start using all the information I learned. It was truly amazing. And to be one of only 11 people in the country to have this skill. I feel truly blessed and grateful to have the experience! I have never been to a seminar that I got to spend 2 days on the bike. We closed off today with a 2 hour ride learning how to do and teach the skills of the road. WOW! That’s all I have to say.
It has been a fabulous week. I haven’t slept past 5 AM in about 3 weeks. Tomorrow, I sleep! My first appointment is at 1 and I can hardly wait!
I’m getting stronger, stronger than I have ever been in the pool. I gauge this because on Saturday I swam long course, that’s what the seasoned veterans call a 50 meter pool. In all subsequent years I have been tired middle of the lap, this year, it didn’t feel any different than a short course pool of 25 yards or meters. It was a great encouragement for my progress.
People are always asking me how they can log their progress, see their improvement. I am not a numbers girl, so I don’t do power or HR, I use strictly time and PR. I know how long it takes me for example to run Jeter Loop. If I’m in a heavy week of training and I have no improvement in my PR then, I look at that as an improvement because of my training load. I swim a mile, or run Rolling Acres, or try for a PR on one of my favorite mountain bike courses. If I got more track sets in than I did last week, etc.
Here’s another example of a perfect idea; I ran about 7 miles last week off road. I had a hard training week, I ran at an RPE of 5-7 but mostly 5-6 and I ran the last mile barefoot, so that means taking off and on my shoes. And I ran further than I did the week before in the same amount of time at a lower RPE. What other proof do you need?
I’m very happy the trails are drying out. I can’t wait to hit some dry dirt. The girls are on spring break so it may be tough to get some of my workouts in. I noticed Rowlett is open. I’m going to take them there to ride. They should love that. I want to go up north. Isle De Bois or simply my favorite trail is dry. I will have to get a babysitter on that one! Bar H is next weekend, trail work and ride. Or at least try. Nobody has posted anything out there so who know what condition it is in.
Rider beware the snakes are going to be coming out. Especially in the morning and the evening to basque in the sun. Now I really know about snakes.
I can’t wait to sleep in!