Must be another LPC Training Day!
Fun Fact #1: Olympic Gold Medallist Tessa Virtue is a regular client at Loaring Physiotherapy. In her first interview after winning gold she thanked her physiotherapist Mary Brannigan at Loaring Physio for making it all possible.
Fun Fact#2: I have a huge crush on Tessa Virtue.
So on my second trip down to Windsor for an LPC Training Day I was secretly hoping Charlotte would set me up with Tessa. Unfortunately she's busy with World Championships or something, so that will have to wait until next time. I guess all there was left to do was have a fun day of training with the LPC squad.
First up was a short technical swim with a bit of open water simulation (if that's at all possible in a 25m four-lane pool). There are a lot of beginner triathletes in the group so the focus was on getting everyone comfortable with the inevitable chaos of open water swimming.
As an athlete-coach I felt it was my responsibility to make things as realistic as possible and create said chaos for those who needed a good race simulation. I wasn't the most popular guy there after throwing elbows and swimming over some people, but for beginner athletes it's an invaluable lesson. Either give an ass-whoopin' or you're gonna get one.
Next up was another couple laps on the Loaring Run Under the Sun (I really will tell you about it sometime) 5k course. First lap easy, second lap champion-of-the-universe pace. Or at least that's what I heard. In trainers on short warmup I ran one of my best 5k's ever. I think I'm pretty fit for February...I'm looking forward to the race season.
I must admit it's a little strange to have a room full of people 2-3 times my age looking to me for insight or as an example. Given my complete lack of maturity it can be a little intimidating when other athletes look to me or want to know how I'm "so fast" (flattering, but untrue). I don't have all the answers (or any of them for that matter), and my only strength in triathlon is my work ethic. All I can really do is show them how: I put in the work.
Training days are a very tough day for most of the athletes and they're capped off with a hard two hour trainer session. So I tried to set a good example and proceeded to murder myself for two hours on the bike. It was a lot of fun with great energy from everyone, and the whole group put in an awesome workout and a big day of training.
Next up is the LPC Florida Camp in a couple weeks and I can't wait to join the group again. It's always a lot of fun training with athletes of all backgrounds and abilities, who all bring a great attitude into training.
Oh, to clarify that first line. Well I stole James' car while he was paying for gas...he was not mad, just very disappointed. The foosball and hitch hiker stuff is better left in the past.
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