Starting to wind it down

What a BEAUTIFUL day outside today!  As I enter the final week before the race, I am starting to ease up on the workouts to taper down and be rested up.

One of the challenges I sometimes face is when I have my kiddos but need to get a workout in.  Thank God for trainers and their bikes!

Today I set my bike up on my trainer out in my driveway in the sun for a nice 60 minute spin.  That way I could get my ride in and still spend time with my beautiful babies!

Upon finishing the ride, I changed into my running shoes and we hit the streets of the neighborhood.  Me on foot and them on their bikes.  A nice and easy 20 minute jog.  I loved how much they were smiling and loving spending that time riding around the neighborhood with me as I jogged.  It's the little things in life that matter most to me...

I have really not been able to slow myself down in my running for the past month, but I was able to today.  I wanted to be at a 10:00/mile pace today at the fastest, and ended up at 10:07/mile.  That was really good for me, because keeping a nice slower pace next Sunday is something I really want to do. My biggest goals are to control my heart rate, stay hydrated, have the proper amount of nutrition, and stay mentally engaged and strong.  Keep pressing forward is the name of the game---NOT how fast I do it!

Guess it's way too late to turn back now!!!!!

Almost there

It's hard to believe that a week from right now I will be in Galveston, a day from race day!  Truthfully, I'm nervous, excited, anxious, scared, confident, determined, and so many other emotions all at the same time....

I had a good 2 hour trainer ride on Thursday.  Today I will ride for an hour or so, followed by a 20-30 minute easy jog.  Then swim tomorrow.  A lot of what I'm doing now is also mentally going over my race, nutrition, etc.  

My body is feeling good, but I'm also at times feeling some fatigue from all that I'm putting on it.  I've never done this much in my life, then couple that with work, marriage, kids, etc, etc, and it definitely adds up.

I look very forward to just finishing this and then coming back and working on getting stronger and quicker after a few days of rest!

Off to my Saturday!!!

Jog time

I went on a jog today.  I decided to go a different direction than I normally go.  This was a great call!  It was hillier than I'm used to, but it was great going a direction that offered new sights and scenery.

I intended on doing right at a 10:00/mile pace for about 60 minutes.  So 6 miles.

I started off well, keeping myself slow, feeling good.  At mile 1, I was right on track.  And that was the only time!  I just decided to not look at my watch, but rather find a good comfortable pace, and just hold it for each 9 minute jog.

I ended up doing 6 miles in right under 58 minutes, at a 9:39/mile pace.

Now I'm hoping to fall asleep soon and get up for a 6am speed workout with the fellas!  No promises though!!!

Putting it all together

Friday was a shorter workout, yet still taxing.  I did 15 minutes swimming, fast and consecutively, followed by a 15 minute run.  I'm not sure how far I went in the water, but I know I did my 15 minute run at an 8:28/mile pace.  That's QUICK for me.

Today was a triathlon!  Harold and I did 30 minutes in the pool, followed by a 90 minute ride, then 30 minute jog.  My main focus today was hydration, nutrition, and heart rate.  Based on how I felt when I finished, I'd say I had a good workout.

This was my first wetsuit swim, and I covered 1700 yards in the 30 minutes.  That's consecutive swimming, no breaks.  After a quick transition, I got out and covered 24.69 miles in 1:28.35.  I did it at a 16.72mph pace.  The second half of my ride was a tad slower as I was already thinking about conserving for my jog.

I had a very quick second transition, and got out for my jog on a good pace.  My legs felt pretty good, and I was going harder than I think I will in Galveston, but I figured that should be ok with just the 30 minute run as opposed to 13.1 miles.  I ended up doing 3.25 miles, and covered that at a 9:10 pace.  My running is definitely getting better!

It was a great confidence builder today, especially that swim.  I truly feel like the ride and run will be very manageable once I get my pasty white butt out of that water!!!

Almost there...

Getting closer!

Been a decent week thus far.  Monday, I swam 2000 yards.  I did 2x400, then 6x200, with 45 seconds rest between each one.  I felt sluggish, and not as good as I did the last time I swam, but I got it done, and that's all that matters.  In Galveston, I'm going to feel a HUGE amount of relief once I emerge from the water!

Tonight, I got me a 7.5 mile jog in at 9:42/mile pace.  Honestly, I tried to go slower, but my body just wasn't having it!

I'm hoping to swim tomorrow, have a nice easy ride Friday, then do some sort of my own triathlon Saturday.  It will probably consist of a 30 minute swim, 35-40 mile bike, and a 7-8 mile jog.  YOWZERS!!!!!!  THAT will be the most my body has EVER done at one time!  But it will be great practice for April 6!

Almost there...

Bright and early

Got up just after 6am and was on the road jogging by 6:30.  I wanted to do around 6 miles at a faster pace than normal, then a 1/2 mile or so cool down.  I ended up doing 5.98 miles in 52:38, which was a 8:47 pace.  For me, that is FAST!  That is still doing the 9/1 method.  Then I did about a 3/4 mile slow cool down jog.  All before 8am.  That's how I like to do it.  Get my stuff done while the rest of the city is sleeping.  In the dark!

I won't lie, though.  The first two words initially that went through my mind as my alarm went off were DEDICATION SUCKS!  Lol.  I quickly got over that, and was on my way to a good workout :)

Catching back up

Been a great week back at home!  We got home late Monday night.  LATE Monday night!  That has been a bit of a challenge to get past, but I'm about there.  The vacation with my best friend to such a beautiful place was well worth it :))

Wednesday I got in a nice brick.  I did 90 minutes on my trainer, followed by a 75 minute jog.  I did 7.67 miles at a 9:46 pace.  Coming off the bike and doing that I was very pleased.  That would have been unthinkable a year ago!

I went to swim Thursday around 6pm, but the pool was full of REALLY good swimmers, and I decided to wait until today to go.  I got in today and was going to do 1600 in the pool, 200x8.  I ended up doing 2100 though, which I was excited about.  I did 9x200 and then 1x300 to finish, with 30 seconds between each one.

I was a bit frustrated tonight as I set out to do an hour on my bike, as something didn't feel right in my quads, and seeing as how my jog in the morning is more important to me, as well as my brick on Monday, I shut it down within a few miles and headed home.  I was just going to do the ride because I could, not because it was an intense workout, or necessary, or anything like that.  I never like when I don't do something I wanted or set out to do, but I also realize that listening to my body is THE most important thing, and therefore I'm at peace with it.  I'm in this for the long haul.  For health.  For fitness.  NOT to set records or win anything!

Well, that's where we are.  The 70.3 is 3 weeks from Sunday!!!  HOLY CRAP!!!!!!

I'm ready to do this....

Slow week

Well, my new bike is awesome, but the newer positioning has left some soreness in my back.  I got a trainer ride or two in this week, but that was it.  Seeing as how Kelly and I were getting ready to go skiing, a sore back was NOT an option!  I'm excited to get back from vacation and hit it hard!

But as I write this, I am sitting in a Starbucks in Whistler Village, and this place is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen!  The views and sights are amazing and breathtaking!

Day one of skiing was good.  I only hit the ground a few times, and seeing as how I basically have skied one day in my life, and that was over two years ago, I'm VERY pleased with that.  I did wake up today with some freakishly sore legs, so today might have a few more breaks built in.  My quads were screaming at me by 1pm, and I assure you that my legs will be stronger upon returning home than they were when I left!

My beers of choice in Canada so far are a Canadian and also Kokanee.  Both are light and go down smooth!

Alright, time to drink this skinny latte, and then get ready for another day in paradise!!!

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The good:
I was able to get a good 90 minute trainer ride in tonight. I kept a good, strong, and consistent pace up the whole time.  I needed that, especially after being sick the past few days.  My fat old body was CRAVING exercise!

The bad:
I was unable to run this morning.  The first reason was that I left my bag with my running stuff in Kelly's car, and she and it were at my sister's house.  The other reason, and biggest reason, is discussed next....

The ugly:
THE WEATHER WAS TERRIBLE!  When I went to bed, the forecast for 6:30am was 60ish and 50% chance of rain.  The reality was 32, felt 20, with 20mph winds out of the north.  Even if I had my stuff, there's no way in hell I'd have gone out in that, ESPECIALLY on the tail end of this cold!

I'm ready for a strong week of training now!!!