BigDay Workout with Paul C

06:32:26 AM: Up and checking some morning email before heading to the gym to start a BigDay/MegaWorkout with Paul C. Looking forward to it.

11:23:21 PM: Swim was good. An hour, slow and steady. No stops.

Then I met Paul at the Silver Comet. The weather was perfect. Sunny. We headed out, chatting for the first 10 miles or so. A quick stop at mile 11 and then we turned on the iPods and did our own things. Paul was riding faster than I was all day. I watched as he became a small dot on the horizon. I've been working on getting into the low heart rate groove and again kept things at 120bpm or so.

We stopped at the Coot's Lake store and refueled before heading out to the unknown far side of Rockmart. A group of 20 kids were in the middle of the trail and luckily Paul slowed down just before turning the corner where they were. Glad hea was leading because I would have barreled through them.

I normally turn around at mile 39 and do some out-and-back stuff. Today we decided to ride to the end of the trail. They've added a bunch of new pavement. But it's not like the rest of the trail. A lot more up and down. A lot more curves. A lot more road crossings. In all, not very good for steady state riding. It goes out to mile 46 and then turns into a country road, much like the ones on the Taylorsville loop. We turned around.

Another stop at the Coot's Lake store. Then Paul went off the front big time. He's been riding the indoor trainer which is a lot more mentally demanding than the Comet. What's funny is that most people find the Comet to be a form of boring torture (not me). But to Paul it's great. I tried to keep up for a while, taking my heart rate to the mid 130's but he was a dot on the horizon. For a while I could see him on the very long straightaways. Then he just disappeared.

I like that we did our own thing. And I like that we rode together. It's a good balance. Motivating to have somebody out there. But on five hour rides there's no way that fitness desires will match up. And as triathletes we want to avoid any draft on workouts like this.

After the ride we headed out for a run. The heat was building up. Seven miles wasn't overly tough but I did miss a gel and start to blow up. Lowering the pace and grabbing some water got me back. I'm gaining confidence at running through the dreaded run explosion.

Thanks to Paul for letting me join in his BigDay! We've been threatening to get together for a workout for months.