Brick by brick

In journalism school, you are taught to avoid  jargon at all times.

In the world of sports, this is fairly difficult. The line between jargon and sports-specific terms can be blurred and add to that the proliferation of catch phrases from ESPN and ESPN-wannabes and athletics often has its very own language that's not easy to decode.

I bring this up because Thursday night I did my first brick workout.

First, the explanation. A brick workout is a combination of events, most typically a run-bike-run. The distances vary based on your workout but you are most definitely completing two disciplines back-to-back.

So why is it called a brick workout? I Googled the question and found, as expected, no consensus. One reason is that the events are stacked or linked immediately after one another. Another thought is that it lays the foundation for your training.

Still others at the Buffalo Triathlon Club workout thought it was called a brick because that's how your legs feel when you get off the bike and start running.

For me, it might as well be called the wizard workout because that guy appeared with a full body blow the first mile into my run.

Since this was the first brick workout of the season for the club, it was an "open brick" meaning that there was no formal workout or timing. You designed your own and for this inaugural brick of the season many of the members took the time to pace the newbies through the course.

I did a simple brick -- two laps of the bike course which totaled 12.5 miles then ran the three-mile course. (There also is a one-mile course). The bike was nice. The route was all right turns, pretty simple, with one hill. My speed was pretty steady and I so could have gone faster, which made me feel good and strong.

Then back in the parking lot I swapped my helmet for baseball cap and my cleats for running shoes.

Off for a three-mile run.

And that was hard.

My legs didn't seem to bother me all that much to be honest. They were a bit rubbery to start with, but I felt I got into a groove pretty quickly.

But as I made the first left hand turn on the run course through a nearby cemetery, the wizard punched me in the gut.

Whoa. I am slow. I am getting tired. And I really, really want that chocolate Luna bar I have back in my car.

Another newbie passed me and asked if he was the only one ready to collapse.

Oh no, I assured him. If I could, I would. But the last I thing I wanted to do was walk my first brick.

The three miles actually went rather quickly and soon enough I was back at my car, catching my breath and feeling rather happy. See, the whole "I'd-like-to-collapse-right-now" feeling is more mental than physical and once I relaxed into the run, into my pace, I could keep on going despite the occasional smacks from the wizard.

Later that evening I realized that I was one bike loop short of doing the same basic distance of the sprint triathlon. Yes, taking on another 6.25 miles will increase the challenge, but ultimately, I'm learning that I really can do this.

Comments

[Brian]

Great job Amy! I've done exactly one brick in my life and thought I was going to die.

[Jenny]

Amy, way to go! Bricks are not easy and it takes some time for the body to accept the transitions from one discipline to another. It sounds like you overcame your doubts and pushed yourself through. This will only add one more "brick" to your wall and will make you stronger! Keep it up.