An "Almost" Perfect Recovery Week June 30-July 6

After the EPIC race on June 29th, I gave myself a week of active recovery.

Here's what I did:

Monday, June 30 - total day off from exercise and a lovely awards lunch where a lot of the EPIC racers and organizers had a chance to exchange stories about their day and  looked ahead to other races this summer. 

Tuesday, July 1 - Canada Day and Sealey's 7th birthday included a 30 min 1138m open water recovery swim at home with Barry providing kayak support. We had fun with the kid who enjoys us singing "happy birthday" and her own peanut cake I get annually from a gourmet dog bakery.

Wednesday, July 2 - 1hr 22k easy ride mostly in small chain ring on a flat course

Thursday, July 3 - Barry's 62nd birthday!

45 minute, 5.5k recovery zone 1 hrt rate trail run with Sealey before work and a 30 min swim with drills 1296m. Nice surprise visit as we were finishing the swim from Barry's oldest dearest friend Millard. I brought home a box of delicious Malpeque oysters which we enjoyed with horseradish and Tabasco. I cooked a nice meal and had Barry make a wish and blow out a few candles on a mini carrot cake!

Friday, July 4 - after work I did my 1 hr bike 25k with 30 min as a power time trial in the Uniacke Business park where there is no traffic and it is mostly flat and no potholes!! My numbers were a bit low bu acceptable given it was only 4 days after EPIC.

Saturday, July 5 - post tropical storm Arthur hit the Maritimes. Hundreds of thousands lost power. Mostly a wind event in NS with NB and PEI getting the worst of it.  We had "battened down the hatches" just in case but really it was nothing like we've experienced in the past with tropical storms and hurricanes.

Still, it meant I had to take my workouts indoors to the Canada Games Centre. I also had a wedding to conduct at the St Mary's Boat Club which was also moved indoors. Swam 1hr8 min 2800m - then the wedding - then back to the indoor track for a boring 2 hour 17.5k zone 1 run. My iPod ran out of juice after 20 min! That was an endurance test in itself but I got 'er done!

A boat on the Northwest Arm during post tropical storm Arthur. I had just conducted a wedding (JP) a few steps away.

While I was out the storm intensified. We lost power for 2 hrs (Barry & Sealey had a nap!) and I arrived home to discover the BBQ and patio storage tub in the living room ... Again it was mild compared to hurricanes we get

Sunday, July 6 - winds had calmed to 20-30kph. Beautiful day to ride my favourite coastal route - The Aspotogan heritage lighthouse route. I did 2 loops for a total of 100k in 3:54 + 15 min 2.5k run

Bonus! Connecting with Kristin and my grandson Paco at Bayswater Beach after to soak legs in the Atlantic and a wonderfully rewarding conversation. They both followed me back home where Barry was delighted to welcome his daughter & and grandson home. Sealey loves both of them too. We ate, drank wine and re-watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. A splendid end to recovery week!

Below - our award winning freelance journalist Kristin Kent recently in Pond Inlet, Nunavut where the Toronto Star sent her to do a story and meet some amazing people

The regret of the week was not being able to satiate my food cravings with fruits and veg... Way too many carbs, sweets & maybe too many empty calories enjoying more than a glass of wine. I know, I know - I deserved a reward after EPIC but a tad more self discipline could have been exercised - seriously. Just gave myself more abdominal/core workouts from here to raceday.