This Week in Training – Week 11: Back on Track (Mostly)…
IMWI 2026: The Long Crawl to the Base Phase
(Recovering from turkey, travel, and general chaos — one workout at a time.)
Solid week, even if I missed two workouts. The important thing is I got back to it after the Thanksgiving dip. I’m starting to feel that rhythm again — the familiar soreness, the satisfaction of checking sessions off, and the creeping sense that I might actually be getting fitter.
Swim 🏊
- Workouts: 1
- Total Distance: 2,000 yards
- Total Time: 41 minutes
- Notes: Only one swim this week, where I missed a workout. Felt fine, though I was rusty and bored. The pool is my quiet place, but sometimes it feels like Groundhog Day with goggles.
Bike 🚴
- Workouts: 1
- Total Distance: 17.84 miles
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Notes: A one-hour Power Zone Peloton ride. It was a challenge, but I made it through. I’m sure my zones have slipped over the past year, but I stubbornly used the old ones anyway. Didn’t hit every minute perfectly, but I didn’t bail either. Win.
Run 🏃
- Workouts: 2
- Total Distance: 10.05 miles
- Total Time: 1 hour 39 minutes
- Notes: Both runs outside — cold air, steady pace, good energy. I love running in winter. There’s something about the quiet and the crunch of snow that makes it easier to keep going.
Strength/Other 💪
- Workouts: None
- Notes: Still nothing formal, though I probably should start mixing in some core and strength work before “base” sneaks up on me.
Relative Effort 📈
- Total Weekly Effort: 541 (up from 411 over Thanksgiving, down from 552 before that)
- Notes: Overall trajectory is trending upward again, which is what matters.
Reflections ✍️
Not perfect, but a solid rebound. I felt good this week and kept moving forward. The Power Zone ride reminded me what real effort feels like, and the runs helped shake off the post-holiday rust.
Next week will probably look similar, but I’m hoping to hit every planned workout. After that, things should ease up — no more after-school class twice a week, which means more flexibility and fewer excuses.
Goals for Next Week 🎯
- Hit every scheduled workout.
- Stay consistent with running — maybe stretch one a little longer.
- Add a second swim (and try not to complain about it).
- Keep building toward that elusive “base phase.”