A good weekend....

After a week of fighting off negativism about my knee, the weekend thrust me back into training with a nice momentum.

Even though I didn't swim on the Thursday morning workout, getting up at 5am and joining the group still kept me motivated. A good flatwater workout that evening followed by a solid lunchtime workout on Friday and I was ready for the group ride on Saturday morning.

We met at the red caboose in Vienna, VA for the ride Sat morning. I really like that we're moving around the greater DC area for our rides/runs. The change of environment breaks the monotony up well. I opted for the Level 2 ride of 70 min since my knee had been hurt. I didn't want to push too much on the first ride back. It ended up being easy - had a good conversation and slow pace going out and decided to sprint back - working at, what felt like, about 80% of my max. No problems - except for the guy (not a part of the TNT group) that trash talked me a bit on the ride back.

And, good call by the coaches to go to the Vienna Inn afterwards - a very cool place and fun time talking with Danielle, Tod, Esteban, and Brett.

Saturday night brought the annual tradition of Pie Night. That's right an entire evening dedicated exclusively to pie. Started almost 10 years ago when a group of kayakers were jones-ing for some pie similar to the homemade pie we'd get at a diner near the Lower Yough river, Pie Night was created as an off-season way to get our pie fix. AJ and Bob (Queen and King of Pie, respectively) have led the charge.

So, after baking 14 different pies from scratch, a large group gathered at Bob's newly refurbished house for the blessing and consumption of pie. A very good night.

Consequently, I missed the group swim at the Lab School the next morning. Slept in. Dreamt of pie.

AJ and I did go to Rockville that afternoon for a late swim after a lazy Sunday. I managed through it but was really tired for most of it. Whatever figment of technique I have was not present. Regardless, I made it through the 800 meter workout - albeit not very stylishly.

That brings us to Monday where I've had a good ride into work, another good lunchtime workout, and looking forward to a nice slow ride home......

Go team!