Week 14 - Too Much Fun, but Week 13 will be no fun

Week 13 is not off to a good start. Today in the pool not only did a wave of water get forced down my throat, I wasn’t paying attention during the backstroke and hit my head on the wall. Oops.

Perhaps this is a sign that I should stop having fun and really concentrate on Ironman Training.

I don’t go out much but when I do, it wrecks havoc on my training plan.

Saturday night I attended a concert in Grand Lake. I love live music but staying up late isn’t in the plan. I got home at 11:30pm and it seemed all downhill from there (literally)

Sunday I overslept and got to work without doing the bike workout for 2 hours.

My buddy Kevin called to ski last day at SolVista and my boss let me leave work.

It was a perfect last day of skiing: the sun was out, the beer was flowing, and the snow conditions were perfect.

Here's me in the terrain park:


For every three trails we skied, we stopped in at Seven Trails for a delicious Seven Trails Ale (aka very fattening microbrew). We sat on the deck and laughed and drank beer. A great afternoon.















However, I didn’t bike, nor did I swim. I slept 10 hours and almost didn’t get a swim in this morning. But then when I did swim, I probably shouldn’t have (see first part of post above).

But I’m back on track and decided that I’m not drinking alcohol anymore; or at least until June 22. And definitely no more fun.

My Mantra

What a difference a day makes

What a difference a small accomplishment can make in the life of a wanna-be Ironman. Yesterday I couldn’t get my flat tire fixed. Today, I fixed it. I’m not stressing about my 3 hour bike ride today because I can’t control everything. The ride should be 3 hours (in a row) however, I will have to break it up 3 ways. One hour indoors before work. One hour outside this afternoon. One hour after work inside. I’m okay with it. I got my 16 training hours in and will always be able to fix a flat.

Yesterday was a bad day. On the drive to the YMCA I was close to tears for the first time this year. The stresses in my life flashed in front of me: a tough training plan this week with 16 hours, What am I going to do if I can’t change a tire to my road bike? If I can’t take off the tire and put in a new tube, then put the tire back on, how will I finish Ironman? What if I don’t finish Ironman? What if I can’t finish?

This negativity is ruining my beautiful drive south on 40 past ranches and horses eating hay. Instead of feeling jazzed about driving to the YMCA with music blaring, my mind drifts to Idaho and June. The bike is going to be the hardest part – 112 miles. It will take a minimum of 7 hours. This is why I need to know how to change a flat tire.

I get to the pool and start my workout. 150 warm up (6 times up and back). Then 4 X 500 which is 20 laps, 30 second break, 20 laps, 30 second break, 20 laps, 30 second break, 20 laps, 30 second break. I feel sluggish. Each 500 is suppose to be faster but it seems really slower. After 3 I look at my watch and the 45 minutes is over but the workout is not done. Should I end the workout now or complete every part of it? I need this little victory right now. I need the mental reinforcement that I can finish it even if it takes an hour. As I turn from the wall on lap 10 I remember I’m suppose to get faster so I swim faster. I continue the pace until the 20th lap. I finish the work and start the 6 laps of warm down. Done. 1 hour.

I drive home with a wet head and feel great. I look at the check engine light and wonder if my mechanic really did fix the problem.

Today, I’m not worrying about anything – not even the check engine light. There’s snow in the forecast but I’m okay with it. I’d love to bike outside but it’s okay today. Next week is a 9 hour training week: recovery week. I can do this.

Bike Ride Outdoors

I’m cranky.

I did an hour spin class this morning. It was hard. I was tired at the end.

I got home and the high temp was going to be 50 so I decided to go for the first outdoor ride of the year. I wore the wrong gloves and the wrong tights. It was only the second time riding outside on aerobars; there were uncomfortable moments. The 90 minute ride had moments of feeling great, feeling awful, and feeling fast.

A half mile from home I got a flat.

Did I mention that I’m cranky?

My shoulders and neck were so sore when I got home. I only wanted to go into the hot tub and all would be okay. Both hot tubs in my complex were out of order.

Now it’s 6:30 and I’m ready for bed but I have dinner plans – trying out the new restaurant in Granby. As soon as I get home I’m going to bed and hopefully will wake up for swimming. This is the hardest week - 16 hours. I’m cranky and have a flat tire on my bike.

It can only get better; right?

Event Sign Up

I just signed up for some events as preparation for Ironman

May 17 –Littlefoot Triathlon in Morrison Colorado. Sprint Distance

June 4 – Boulder Stroke & Stride

June 11 - Boulder Stroke & Stride

The Littlefoot is a sprint distance but it’s the only triathlon in Colorado prior to my event that isn’t too far from home. I’ve never been to Morrison and I’m sure the water will be really cold. Good Practice for Ironman.

I did two Stroke & Strides last year. Competing in these events will give me some practice time in my wetsuit.

Lane Etiquette

I was going to write a post about Lane Etiquette last week and then there was an article posted on the email list for DailyTriathlon. Here's the article: http://triswimcoachonline.com/tri/?p=447

I'm specifically interested in how to share a lane. It drives me crazy when someone just gets in my lane and I see their legs underwater. I think this is rude. Is it just me? When I join a lane I wait on the deck and as they approach the end I ask them if I can join their lane. I don't just jump in the water.

One time I ask a woman if I could join her lane (there were no other open lanes) and she said she didn't like to share and moved to the open area of the pool - whatever. Another time a woman told me that I created too many waves that disrupted her swimming - whatever. If you can't handle the crowds get your own pool.

I'm tired and cranky tonight. Spin was tough and the run after was hard. I can't wait to go home and sleep. Tomorrow is a swim and run workout. No days off this week. 14 hour week. But next week is only 8. I can look forward to that.

A good training day and new tri suit

Today was a great day, fabulous day, a day for the record books.
1 ½ hour swim in the pool was the workout today. The distance and time are getting easier. This workout was a mix of long, slow distance & speed work.
I even kept track of all my nutrition.
I’m sleeping well at night. I’m not sore.
I’m starting to think maybe I’m not working out hard enough.
The true test will be Wednesday morning – the day after my first spin class.

Today I got my new Ironman Tri Suit. I got a size Medium in the top and bottom. It’s a bit snug but it needs to be. But I still have 14 weeks to get leaner. The trisuit is really pretty; it’s purple.

Here’s the breakdown of today in case you’re wondering

Wake up at 6:45
Coffee
Nutrigrain Bar on the way to the pool (blueberry)
Swim 1.5 hours (a great workout)
3 eggs and 1 piece of Rye toast with grape jelly
1 hour hike with the dogs on the trail across the way – sunny and beautiful.
More coffee as I drive to work
10 graham crackers
Ham and Cheese on Rye
Stouffers Mac & Cheese (the best!)
1 Kit Kat
104 oz of Water throughout the day
1 glass of Pinot Noir

2 miles in the Pool

Today I swam 2 miles in the pool. I did stop a few times but finished the entire work according to the plan. Ironman is in 99 days; it’s all I’ve been thinking about.

I’m doing the workouts – following the plan. I’m doing my nutrition and sleeping well at night.

I’m making plans for the day: June 21. My parents are flying to Seattle and meeting me in Coeur d’Alene a few days before. It’s so much fun planning with them what we are doing the day before and after; I haven’t seen them in a year.

As I was swimming today I was thinking about how the distances are getting longer on the bike and in the pool. My body is adapting well; no aches and pains. I wish I trained this way for my half Ironman last year; I didn’t have a structured plan for 5430 Long Course in August. I think my time would’ve been better if I followed a plan.

Since I’m spending so much time in the pool, on the bike, and running, I feel like the distances I was training for in the past seem so minimal. It reinforces my belief that you can do anything if you train for it.

After tomorrow’s work out I will have trained for 14 hours this week; the most ever. And, 98 days until Ironman Coeur d’Alene – amazing.

Week 15 - Update

I'm half way into week 15 and 14 hours of training. Today is a 2 hour bike ride and 1 hour 40 minute run. I have to get it all in and I will. It's 6:45am right now and the 3 plus hour training morning begins in 15 minutes.

I'm feeling good; not tired, yet.

Best Post Ever ! Single but Committed

This is a post from another IMCDA blogger. I love it and now when people ask, I'm in a committed relationship with IM.

2 Tough Training Days

The last two days were long training days; over two hours each day and Wednesday even included an hour of skiing. I was out of commission by 6pm on Wednesday but ate a good dinner (and ½ a pint of Everything But The) and slept 12 hours. I was able to get up today and bike 90 minutes (RPE 3) and run 60 minutes (RPE 4) and still feel good.

It’s amazing when everything feels good. No headache, migraine, or back pain.

It’s amazing to have a few good days.

I’m building endurance and mental toughness.

When I ran this morning I swear the wind gusts were 20 mph and took my breath away. But I did the 60 minute run according to the plan.

This week is the most mileage so far in the plan and I’m glad to be feeling well.

The other great thing: I’m getting my weight down. It’s not where I want it to be, I still have 10 lbs. to go but I feel leaner.

From a T-shirt

Why I tri:
1. I love the smell of neoprene in the morning
2. The golf, tennis, and bass fishing combo didn’t work out
3. To honor those before me, inspire those behind me, and challenge those beside me.
4. Swim 2.4miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles; brag for the rest of your life
5. Because I can
6. For the Tshirts, baby!
7. Because you never know until you tri
8. You don’t get an ass like this playing checkers
9. If I didn’t do this I’d have a tough time explaining the rubber suit and cooking spray in my trunk
10. The Grim Reaper catches us all, but when he catches me, the son of a bitch is going to be hunched over, wheezing, and clutching his chest.