February 11, 2026

I’m definitely getting stronger and back into running shape. It’s slow but steady progress. Today was 5 miles at just under 7 minute pace. It actually felt really comfortable until I got hungry near the end.

The repeated hungriness means I’m likely underfueling, and my hands have been struggling to stay warm. I need to focus on getting calories in over the next few days to support my exercise.

Something I do wonder with the triathlon training I’m currently doing is whether I’ll ever actually be fit in any of the three sports, or if I’m simply developing my aerobic engine with no real disciplinary fitness. I’m only running about 15 miles per week (three runs of five miles average), biking about four to five hours across two long rides and one shorter one, and swimming two to three times. None of that feels like it will really improve the disciplines that much, especially with how much running I was doing before to eke out performance.

Additionally, my watch wants me to ramp up my running VERY slowly, one of the main reasons I’m limiting it. It updates my weekly tolerances and puts all my training recommendations within that range, but for the past five weeks it’s recommended less than twenty miles a week, despite the fact that I can go out for a 6-8 mile run and be fine right after. I’m considering ignoring it and just running minimum 2-3 miles every day to force the quick adaptation, but I’m also worried it might know something I don’t and is protecting me from injury.

If I do 3 miles every day, except for three runs of 6 (threshhold), 7 (easy mileage), and 10 (long run), it would put me at 35 miles, which I think would be very healthy at this stage of fitness. Maybe I’ll try that moving forward and throw a run in every day. Afterall, running is my primary event. On the flip side, though, my biking is the slowest of the three disciplines relative to my goals, so maybe I should focus on more time in the saddle there…

I’m not sure. I’ll continue to ponder and trust the Garmin Coach for atleast a little bit longer.

I think it wants me to bike tomorrow, so I’ll update you guys after that!

Ben