June-July 2017: A Month in Review

Hey green team, 

The weather is warmer. The days are longer. All around us, friends, colleagues, and loved ones moan “it’s so hot, all I want to do is sit here.” So what does this group of highly-educated people do?

Put on spandex to swim, bike, and run in the dead of summer.

Call it madness, but nothing beats the cycling-shorts dirt lines, the tri-kit back tan, or the room-illuminating whiteness of our feet because they are the only parts unexposed to the summer elements. In a brief recap of what folks have been doing since May:

• Almost 20 riders made the annual trek from Boston (or somewhere near-ish Boston) to P’Town, with an outstanding ZERO flats.
• An impressive group completed the Cohassett Triathlon. In a potential Wheelworks first, we may have had more males than females.
• ​An equally impressive group joined race director Tim Richmond for the first-ever Harvest Triathlon...and crushed it.
• Several teammates rode over 130 miles to raise money for MS research.
• 2 teammates celebrated a late honeymoon by taking a tropical Caribbean vacation running a marathon in Alaska (congrats Katrina and Aaron!).​

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And there’s more coming down the pipeline! Upcoming focus races include:

• Mass State (July 9)
• Boston Triathlon (July 30)
• Cranberry TriFest (August 19-20)
• Pumpkinman (September 9-10)
• Lobsterman (September 16)

With all this in mind, we also wanted to share a few hot-weather training tips.

• Wear loose-fitting clothes. I know, I know. Our kit tops are extremely flattering. But they’re also tight - so opt for something a little looser. It also hides last night’s gelato binge.
• Hydrate well. Not just during - but before and after. Be sure you’re replacing those electrolytes with delicious products by our sponsors, Skratch Labs.
• Have a douche. As in, shower (French translation). During a race, use the water stations to actually drink water - and then pour some over your head. Voila, douche.
• Be cool. Unlike winter, when we seek out the sunshine because negative 8 degrees, find yourself a well-shaded route. If you need to do a long run, you could even stash water/sports drink along the way. Just don’t tell me where it is, or I might take a selfie with it.

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Finally, perhaps the hardest part: manage your expectations. The heat makes us a little slower; we give up more water and our bodies need to work a little harder. Be kind to yourself. That 9-minute mile may be closer to 10:30, both in training and on race day. Go into each practice session and toe each start line with one thing in mind: you are a Wheelworker, and you are a rock star. 

See you on the road, and #gogreen!
Julie