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Running. It's like riding a bike. Sort of.

If you read this site over the summer, you know that approximately 100% of what I wrote about (give or take a couple percent) was related to triathlon, running, training, racing, riding my bike, crashing my bike, and eating and sleeping so that I could train some more.

If you've only been reading since November 1, this is probably a surprise to you. I haven't mentioned my usual athletic endeavors once this month.

That's because my last workout was on October 31. Right before I dropped off my car for some quick repairs, I ran four miles. A day or two later, I got sick with a hellish cold, and only now am I recovered enough to work my lungs and get my heart rate up.

I reminisced about the summer's training this morning as I drove Dave to work (poor Dave... he did get a ride, but he also had to listen to my good-old-days talk). Three months ago at 9am on a Thursday morning, I'd be walking into work after getting up at 5am, taking the train to the gym, doing a two-hour spin-run workout, showering, drying my hair and catching a bus to the office.

So this morning, after dropping Dave off, I drove myself to the gym. I put on my running shoes, hoping to go for 20 minutes without enduring too much of the nasty cough that is still driving me nuts. I ended up lasting a very slow 40 minutes. I finished tired but very, very happy. My legs will be sore tomorrow.

I stopped by the pool on the way back to the locker room to admire the new (and very noticeable) red, white and blue lane markers. A YMCA staffer on the other side of the pool windows made fun of me for gazing longingly at the pool and not just getting the hell in for a swim. Fine! I said. Fine then! I'll go for a swim.

I thought ten minutes in the pool would be nice, an easy 500 meters. Half an hour later, I was still swimming. It was awesome. Swimming can be fun! And relaxing! Especially when you're not counting laps.

This came just in time. My triathlon club's year-end party is this Friday. Now I won't feel like a total impostor.

November 16, 2006 2:24 PM