As I wrote my athletes today – any big training week, or multiple weeks, is only as good as your ability to come back home, into your structured training, and being able to execute the same or better than before.  Once home – on your familiar routes, your runs, your classes, your pool, your climbs, TT sections or favorite loops – and you can do them better, stronger, faster….THAT is successful big training.  Being able to absorb a big block of training, and then come home or into your ‘measurable environment’ and return to executing like there never was a big week?  THAT is fitness…THAT is getting stronger…THAT makes you feel good about your progress, focus and execution.  Training is only as good as your ability to absorb and progress…one day to the next…Absorb requires paying careful attention to recovery, sleep, diet, refueling and rehydration.  Progress requires smart prep, diligent execution in order to fairly and accurately compare the training week over week…month to month.  With all our tools to train these days…power meters, HR monitors, GPS for pace and speed…nothing replaces feeling strong and progress on your loops, your roads, your familiar environment…then you know you are getting stronger…

…”Your ability to train effectively enough to stimulate the appropriate adaptations”…

I woke up early today – despite getting in late from the drive yesterday.  Got some things organized, and off to swim I went.  4500 yards in the pool felt amazing.  Not necessarily super fast – but steady, long, connected, and great to flush out an 8 hr drive on the same day I woke up and did a 20 mile run…Its been 3 shorter days now with Fri/Sat and Sun.  Tomorrow week 4 begins.  But so far its all been quite manageable, I have been able to train effectively enough to stimulate the appropriate adaptations.  More on the how..and what I am seeing, in tomorrows entry.

Bend is done – Park City is done – Tahoe is done.  One more tour stop to go.  Boulder later this week.  Lets throw on one more week for good measure.  I am still feeling good/connected/healthy/recovered/absorbing:

August is 23 days old.  So far its been 1053 miles of cycling, 149 miles of running, 41,380 yrds of swimming: 78:57 hrs of training….only 8 more days to go!