Recovery

Went to the gym this AM and rode one of the virtual cycles from expresso.com---although UCs are apparently not hooked up to a network so you cannot actually track your workout in the way that I had hoped. Rode about 10M or about 30-35 minutes (it does not track total performance if you switch courses after completing one). It is not a bad solution, but one think I like about being outside is that the air cools you as you run/bike and inside I just drip sweat the whole time. I think I deserve this . . . not wanting to face the 28F this morning after a race, I bailed in favor of the gym. I won't make that mistake tomorrow.

Post-race analysis leaves me thinking about what comes next:

1. Route (A) is to plan to run a couple of amazing 5- and 10-k races next year and maybe cap the season out with a 1/2 marathon. I liked the speed and energy of the 8k yesterday and I am partly inclined to keep myself in that arena. This means that I take the pedal off the gas a bit through the winter months and start cranking up again in February and March. There is good logic to this, as long as I can find ways to not lose the overall level of fitness that I have gained these past few months.
   
2. Route B keeps most of Route A intact but throws the Indianapolis mini-marathon into the mix for May 3. This is a huge (35k registrants) event, but it is a proper 1/2 marathon rather than a half as an option instead of the full (I never like the 'alternate' event) and then picks up Indy or Chicago in October.
3. Route C, which I had been planning, puts on a solid winter schedule and culminates the Winter months with the St. Louis Marathon in early April.
4. Another option is to hit the St.L. in April and do the 1/2 (despite my reluctance to choose the alternate event) and pick up the full Indy (or Chiicago) October.
5. And finally, we could completely ignore the Marathon and focus on the Triathalon as the key event.

I am torn on the whole Marathon thing---I like the idea of an 'ultimate' challenge and a big event, but with taper and recovery, we probably wipe out six consecutive weeks of otherwise interesting running. On the other hand, I am planning to build up the mileage anyway, so why not? The mileage, however, can go toward the 10k where I would have more fun since I can really push it and where I won't do more permanent damage.

I think that having the Trot as a goal helped focus me and keep the workload up. Interestingly, I am not inclined to run the Rudolf Ramble (8k) at this moment (although things change rapidly with me) so my initial thought is that an event every couple months would be good for me.

This morning's trip to the gym reminded me that indoor workouts are going to be unpleasant now that I have come over to the out-side. Funny how I thought the opposite until September. Winter may be a good time to firm up the base miles, do a bunch of swimming, and lift. I think I still have a month on more-or-less the usual schedule, although the mornings are going to be cold for cycling. I like the idea of taking the pedal off the gas for a couple months, but I don't want to lose what I have gained.