A Hug For Your Legs

Dealing with this aching achilles and calf and trying my best to let it heal, however, that is proving difficult.  I am trying to give myself 2 weeks off from running and just bike and swim in the interim to give myself the best chance at some relief.  In the meantime I have done a ton of research and am trying new stretches, etc etc, but the most comforting thing, thus far, has been a pair of compression socks.  Spending 12 hour shifts on my feet certainly doesn't help my legs/feet, and the fact that afterwards I want to beat the daylights out of them with a run hardly seems fair, however, at this point, also seems... possible :)  I slipped on this pair of socks and.... "ahhhhhhhhhhhhh" it was like a wonderful hug for my legs!  I am going to plan on wearing them for recovery and at work and eventually when I get back to running, but I can't help but think that they are going to make a big difference.  I guess time will tell!

In the meantime, banged out a 16.2 mile ride in 62 minutes today.  New route that I haven't taken before, very familiar with the roads from the car, but from a bikes perspective, very different.  Beautiful ride with a variety of climbs and downhills, definitely think I will add it to my list of rides to do again.

Things I need to work on: my cadence.  I am just getting into this whole biking thing but from the more I read, the more it looks like I should be hitting a cadence of 80-100/min.  I have no clue where I am now and I see a simple straightforward computer in my future (any recommendations would be appreciated), but I know that this is where I need to aim for.  Also going on my wishlist is a bike trainer.  I get home at 1030/11pm and rarely am ready to go straight to bed and usually laze around on the computer or watching mindless TV, I think it would be nice to be able to crank out a solid ride while catching up on OnDemand before hitting the sheets.  Guess, I'll need to save a few pennies and do a little research on that aspect too.

Who would have thought that the girl who dreaded biking might actually get into it?

Up for a challenge?

So I jumped into this triathlon thing kind of halfheartedly.  I spent the money, bought the bike and gear and changed memberships to a gym with a pool, but aside from that, other than getting a few workouts in a week (approx 3/week) I didn't really commit myself to it.  It was just kind of a thought in the back of my head.  Somehow, some way, that changed today.  I think I am hooked... in a good way.  Day off of work and I still got up at a respectable time and locked in a bike and a swim.  Biked 12.5m in 49 minutes during a very blustery and very hilly course, I was pleased.  Swam a mile, including warm up, cool down, a pull set and a main set of 10x100's on the 1:50.  By the time I was climbing into the car to head to the grocery store, something came over me... a sense of accomplishment and a sense of challenge!  This is what I got into this for, a challenge, something to work at and work up to.  I am so psyched for what comes next, delving in websites, books, and equipment.  I am scouring and planning for a first tri and going to aim to do an Olympic length before the end of the summer.  Who's in?  Would love some company, even if for just a leg of the training :).  Also, anyone with experience or thoughts/recommendations, please chime in!