Training, buses and the # 11

Since Wildflower things have actually gone pretty well for me. On Tuesday I was so spent I went to the pool just to move around a bit. After aquajogging for 5 minutes I was tired so I decided to try some backstroke. I could barely do 25 yards without feeling near death. I got home a threw in an Amy's Organic pizza, made a salad and chowed down. Hitting the pool was a good idea as it got things moving around again.
On Wednesday I decided that I needed to get out on the bike for an easy spin. I planned on 90 minutes of easy spinning. After 45 minutes I actually started to feel pretty good. My watts were coming up so I decided to put in some efforts and see what happened. Amazingly the legs were great and I did a hard effort averaging 275 watts for 6 miles up Deer Creek Canyon. It helped that I had a roadie behind me that I kept trying to drop and finally did at the end. I used the short decent to recover and pushed back home. The watts were at 245 and the legs were still there. I made a final push up the last steep hill 3 miles from home. Often I try to average 275 up this 1/4 pitch. I punched it early hoping to go hard early and just hold on. Well, I averaged 340 watts! I was completely shocked. I finished the day with an easy 2k swim.
Thursday I started off with a steady run. The legs were a bit heavy but it felt good to push the pace. Then I hit the pool for the 11:30 master's swim. My swimming is still a bit off, but that's ok. I started my ride from the pool intending to do some steady work but again the legs were ready to go. I didn't go as hard as Wednesday, but kept it steady with a few harder digs here and there. It was a great ride until my near death run in with a city bus.
I was only half a mile from the car when a bus turned right in front of me. The bus had to have seen me on the road as just previously I pulled next to it at a stop light where we both turned left. As the bus pulled level with me I remembered that this bus either has a stop near, or it turns right. So when it pulled level with me I put my hands on the bull horns and sat up. I figured there is no way this bus is going to pull over on me. Sure enough without hitting the brakes the bus starts a right turn. Immediately I start screaming, hitting my brakes and quickly deciding what I need to do. While I'm braking I start to dive into the turn hoping that there's not a bunch of sand that is going to wash out my front wheel. If I had put my left hand out I could have touched the bus, that's how close we were. I came to a stop and the bus slowed as well. The driver just looked at me, put his hand up in the universal "sorry" manner and motored on. Thanks.
Today was more fun. AM masters of 4k of speed work. Right from the pool I drove up to Boulder and did some hill repeats up Mt. Sanitas. It was a beautiful day for a run. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the views were great. After the run I met up with Mike and we went for an easy spin together. Most often I do my recovery days on my own so I don't get pulled into going too hard. But Mike is too smart for that, plus he's been on his bike twice since IM AZ so he was in no mood to hammer.
The drive home was horrible. From the Boulder Turnpike all the way home was stop and go traffic. No less than ELEVEN, ELEVEN times I was in first gear. On a highway, the speed limit is 55/65 MPH, and I'm in first gear. How do people do this with any regularity? I wanted to jump out of the car and run down the highway. Thankfully Courtney took me out for pizza at Via Baci. It's a great pizza place that makes a great thin crust Italian style pizza. Life was much better after I inhaled dinner.
Have a great weekend of riding. The weather here is going to be great and I hope you all get out to enjoy it.