Rob Eakin Triathlete

Morning Coffee

After a long week of training I'm looking forward to a recovery week starting tomorrow. I think the extra time spent strength training is taking a bit of a toll (which is good) because it's not like I'm logging that many hours right now (especially on the bike). The recovery week should also be interesting with report cards done and school being on midterm break next weekend (four day weekend!). I'm going to have to find something to fill the extra time.

In my time away from everything triathlon in the past month or so, I missed some interesting news about Kirsten Sweetland. According to her blog, she is leaving the BAMF crew (Simon, coach Joel et al) in Victoria to move to Australia to train with a group there which includes olympic bronze medalist Emma Moffatt.

I can't help but think (though it is dissapointing that she has to leave the country to do it) that it's a good decision for her. Even if it isn't entirely our business, our crew has debated on a number of occassions (what else are you going to do on 5 hour rides or long drives to races) Kirsten training with a group of men and whether she was doing too much at a young age.

Even though I'm sure Joel was doing a great job of designing a program specifically for her, it would've been tough for her to not get wrapped up in how hard the boys were going. Not that it's a negative to measure herself against those guys but over the long term that sort of extra exertion may end up hurting (again, complete speculation but I'm thinking about the stress fracture).

So why am I prying into someone elses training and decision making when I don't even know them (if you find this in your incoming links Kirsten, I'm on your side)? I think it highlights the importance of a team even in such an individual sport. Simon credited the BAMF team with a huge part of his success in winning silver in Beijing. I know our team pushes me to be better, keeps me in line, and sometimes, most importantly, makes the most painful workout enjoyable.

So hopefully Kirsten's change of scenery and new team will help her find that too and the success she's been looking for.

That's my two cents worth (though I doubt it'll be worth even that once the markets open again Monday).

For the rest of today, a 90 minute easy run, some work in pool at pace (which is pretty slow right now), and then a relaxing evening at the parents to enjoy dinner and the Canucks on PPV.