Get that Mileage Up!

Get that Mileage Up!

6 weeks to go to the Blue Ridge Relay, and we have a renewed focus to being more specific to the types of efforts that the BRR will bring.  This week, 28 PAX made the decision that it was an increase in mileage over the hour of Swift that would help build our racing endurance.

The THANG:

• Read the PreBlast at: https://f3southcharlotte.com/2017/07/31/preblast-brr-countdown-6-swifts-to-go/

Moleskin:

• While the weather has been nice recently, this was the best TUESDAY morning in a while.  How to judge?  A lot less shirtless PAX than in past weeks.
• At the 0500 warm-up, somehow DepthCharge and his 26yo legs got to the front.  He led the pack into a brisk 2nd F pace.  And since there was only a handful of PAX had YHC wondering if the PreBlast scared everyone off.  Although we knew that Bunker and Gumbo were already off and doing their own THANG, it did seem like a light crew.  However, we did figure out that the Big Truck trend in the SoB PAX caught Atlas – from Beach Cruiser to Full Size was very well played.
• However, once back to the lot, it was apparent that the PAX had just used the extra time to sleep in.  28 of them rolled out at 0515 on a route of their choosing to the MetLife back porch.  Those that got their first did a little extra running around, but when YHC’s crew got there, it was quickly realized that we were behind schedule, so Cobains to the PAX that we trampled on with our toes in the air.
• Once all the way around the MetLife complex back up to the light at N. Community House and Ballantyne Commons, we had some quick instructions and were off.  Again, the schedule thing, and we wanted to make sure to get the whole workout in.  What was hopefully not lost was the repeated warnings about cars.  Only one interval was to be out and back mid-interval, so hopefully everyone stayed on the sidewalk or bike lane as we ran off down Community House.
• Wow, you can cover a lot of ground in 6 minutes.  Frasier and Citgo definitely heard their 1mile auto-lap alarms go off before the end of 6minutes, and ran out of road to detour in behind Torringdon.  Much better idea than trying to U-turn mid-interval.
• Wow, 1 minute is a short rest.  While it was a rest that encouraged walking and using the time to cross over to the other side of the street avoiding traffic, it passed in an instant.  Only enough time to stare back into the darkness and know that you had to cover the same amount of ground that got you there.  Back up to the stoplight that hung way in the distance.
• Wow, we covered a lot of ground.  Looking at Strava, PAX covered between 5.5 and 8.0 miles in the “normal” hour.  But it really wasn’t normal today with Madame Tussauds and Outback going out early and covering over 8, and Fire Hazard was mileage king at almost 9.  We’re not counting Bunker and Gumbo who we saw chasing each other over the same course, doing similar stuff, and just showed up at COT like they owned the place because they got in over 11.
• Listening to StrangeBrew recall his bout with malaria and recovery made me think seriously about walking around in a mosquito net if I ever go overseas.  Great seeing him out again.
• Several PAX such as Picasso and Tootie’s teams got in some mountain training this weekend.  Not sure if Hoot was caught up in that, or a Swift site FNG, but great having new faces out there.
• Fallout is busy on the bike and in the water these days, so privileged to have him out on the streets.
• Note, if you’re chasing Haggis in the BRR, forget about trying to pass him.  No matter the speed, he’s going to pick it up a little to stay ahead of you for as long as he can.
• Writing this throughout the day when I had a break at work, my legs were stiff and hurting most times when I got up to walk around.  That probably means it was a good workout.  Hopefully, it went as well for you.  Seems it did for Cheddar – instead of remembering Threshold pace as “comfortably hard”, he could only recall that he was “comfortably numb”.

Announcements:

• What’s on the Swift calendar for the next 5 weeks until BRR: https://f3southcharlotte.com/2017/07/31/preblast-brr-countdown-6-swifts-to-go/