Can an Average Runner Become an IRONMAN?

Audaciously...I'm thinking, "YES!"

I’m on the taper!

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keep calm and taper onThe first 20 weeks are nearly done. Funny, after often worrying about how to fit in training, I begin to feel like it’s not enough; I feel a little lost without the challenge of “getting it in.”

This week I did a very-untaperlike thing and added in 2 strength classes because I missed strength the last 2 weeks…too many on-site days one week and a migraine the other. I won’t do this in the coming weeks!

I caught myself the other day thinking, “Well of course I feel on track and good now, I’m on the taper!” Huh! Enough of that. In that moment, I made a commtimetn to enjoy the taper. Appreciate it. enjoy. We need to taper as much as we need to train.

In fact, I can be “actively” considering what will work for my ultimate Ironman taper.

I can also take some moments and acknowledge what’s been accomplished in the first 5-ish months of my training…

  • up to 3.5 hours on bike
  • up to 90 minute runs
  • up to brick of 3.5 hours on bike + 15 minute run
  • up to 65 minute swim workout
  • registered for 4 triathlons, worked out logistics for tri in TX
  • figured out logistics of training for 3 sports (this is good because logistics will step up as workouts are longer and more activities can be taken outside)
  • healthy! injury-free!
  • bike set up on trainer, all sorts of new cycling equipment
  • actually dressed warmly enough for one bike ride!
  • got my full training schedule into my calendar
  • improved my swim skills and bike handling skills

I’ll do my best to stay calm, stay on the taper, and experience and learn whatever there is to experience and learn!

Week 23… slammed by grief

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slammed by griefEmotionally slammed by grief this week. Didn’t see this coming. Yet, as I reflect back, I’m sensing that I really miss the way my Dad would listen to me with his whole being, without judgment, and with unconditional support. I’ve had some misfires with communication in my extended family recently, and perhaps that made me acutely aware of what I’ve been missing. Love you Dad.

Just tried to do my best to accept the emotions, roll with them, NOT try to change them or fix them or blame myself for them, and to struggle through best I could. I gave myself permission to take some things off the training plan this week. (Good thing I’m on the taper!)

Sunday – off.

Monday – 30-minute run in the morning, average 9:31.

In the afternoon, did a 45-minute swim. 2 x 125m and 3 x 375m. Then a 60-minute bike ride. Did it alone in the cycling room. That doesn’t give me as good of a workout, compared with riding outside or doing a cycling class, so I had myself do three 4-minute steep uphill pushes throughout. I’d do 1 minute out of the saddle, try to hold the next minute in the saddle, then add in even more hill for another minute out of the saddle, then again holding steady in the saddle.

In the evening I had my swim lesson in the pool. It was cold! We did drills and swimming. Then we worked with the timer, trying to keep pace with the beeping by our ear. (Beep indicates arm entry on each stroke.) The instructor said that we – including me! – were in the green zone!! That’s good, although the swimming felt fast and sloppy to me. I asked if form went to complete crap, and the instructor said No. But it certainly suffered some! About 30 minutes of work during the hour long lesson, I’d guess. = 165 minutes

Tuesday – Woke up in a bad (very bad) emotional place. Dimmed. Unmotivated. Wanted to do nothing. I rescheduled a call, got up for 1 call, and was otherwise in bed until 1pm. I wasn’t low on sleep. I hadn’t drivien myself to a collapse. It was emotional grief, and I had no idea it was coming and couldn’t see a specific trigger. Awful. Might be the worst I’ve ever felt. Didn’t want to go to my scheduled massage (I love massages!!)…nothing.

I was to do a speed swim session and a 45-minute bike session. I called the swim session complete due to the previous night’s swim lesson and did 45 minutes in the cycling studio by myself in the early evening. Pretty easy ride. = 45 minutes

Wednesday – off.

Thursday – Planned 30-minute bike and 60-minute run. Didn’t do. Dimmed by grief. = 0 minutes

Friday – Thought I might do a kickboxing class int he morning. No go, stayed in bed. After my morning meeting, I went straight to the gym to do my workout. I didn’t trust myself to stop by home. I wanted to do this workout. I was especially excited to do a run and get some stress out. I did 30 minutes in the cycling studio, then I did a 60-minute run outside. The forecast indicated a 25% chance of rain. Wrong! 🙂 I got rained on, hailed on, and then baked in the sun for the last 1.5 miles. AND, I was so glad that I ran outdoors. Felt great to cover some miles. = 90 minutes

Saturday – Biked 90 minutes (45 minutes of a class, then 45 minutes by myself in the cycling studio). Then 10-minute run. Went well. = 100 minutes

TOTAL = 400 minutes = 6 hours, 40 minutes

  • Swim – 75 minutes = 19%
  • Bike – 225 minutes = 56%
  • Run – 100 minutes = 25%
  • Strength – 0 minutes = 0%

Logistics, logistics, logistics

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triathlete gearTraining as a triathlete involves logistics, logistics, logistics.

I’m good at logistics. I can handle a lot of logistics. This is a LOT of logistics. Sometimes I love the challenge of figuring out how to work my schedule and make sure I’ve got everything I need for the various components of my day. Other times, (especially when I forget something or things can’t work out as planned), I get frustrated with the logistics….especially because I’m supposed to be good at logistics!

Examples…

Run inside or out? Pack 2 different sets of clothes to provide options? Or decide ahead of time and just go with it?

If I’m going to run outside, then I should swim after so I’m not out with wet hair.

Remember underwear. (Have failed at this twice!)

Remember all the shoes needed! Cycling shoes; shoes to wear to the cycling studio – these could be my running shoes or my strength training shoes, if I’m planning to do either of those; and shoes to wear for the day!

I’m doing a tri in Texas and when we go on vacation to Hilton Head this summer, I have a BIG training schedule with a 5.5 hour bike ride. So…how am I going to have a bike for both of these. Shipping my bike is a risk. Renting is tricky. It’s tough to figure out – not being a bike expert – how to get as close as I can to the same material, type and size! I made arrangements to rent a bike in Texas. I’ll bring my seat (with post) and pedals to help get the best fit. (That shouldn’t send me over the suitcase weight limit! Ha!) And I figure it’s only 12 miles, so I can make anything “close” work well. Still gotta figure out what I’m renting in South Carolina. My Coach says that if I rent aluminum (my bike is carbon fiber) that I’ll get a really good workout. So, maybe I should just do that. Yet, is that going to be too uncomfortable for the long ride? Don’t know how much of a difference it’ll make…

After planning an early morning long swim, I eventually decided to NOT swim for an hour before an on-site client day because I figured I’d likely have “goggle eyes.” Not cute. Looks like there are big bags under your eyes.

Cycle outside, in the cycling studio or in my basement. Deciding whether to go outside, you can consider weather, time to get bike ready, time to get geared up. (you need to wear a lot more clothes than you think!) Deciding to bike in the cycling studio, I check the cycling class times and durations. I want to not arrive in the middle of a class. I can often tack onto a class in way that works. Do I want to just be by myself in the studio? Sometimes it’s nice to be on that type of bike and be able to do a little bit of multitasking. Deciding whether to bike at home in the trainer: Is it convenient to be at home? Is the bike set up on the trainer?

I currently need to find time to buy or rent a wet suit, get to the bike shop for tune up, buy a tri suit??, get new pedals, set up rental for South Carolina, and attend a bike maintenance class.

Since I have flexibility in my work schedule, it’s a consistent effort to figure out how to best fit training into my schedule, shift things as needed, yet still try to meet the purpose of different training sessions. Sometimes you want them back-to-back, sometimes you want a double in a day. Can this be one night and the next morning? At this point I’m trying not to stress the “purpose” too much and just fit them in where I may.

Ordering materials. It seems like there’s always something to get! I just ordered a new swim suit (totally wore one out in 6 months!), protein bars, chews, gels, drinks. Amazing how often you need to order something!

Logistics, logistics, logistics! I guess I’m working to get even better at logistics!

 

 

Week 24… tapering off

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taper warningThings are tapering off some as we move into the last weeks of the first 20 week plan. (The first 20 week plan that is about half of what the final 20 week plan will be!) The taper timed out perfectly for the Sprint Triathlon that I’ll do in TX on April 17. I’ll be over trained for a Sprint, but that’s just fine with me!

Sunday – off.

Monday – Did the Below the Belt class at the gym (glutes and abs!). = 60 minutes

Tuesday – Biked 45 minutes, attended a cycling class. Then ran 20 minutes. = 65 minutes

Wednesday – Ran 30 minutes. Ran 14 minutes nice and easy before the 8:30am Circuit Class and then 16 minutes after. Circuit class was tough! I was running low on fuel and went into the class sore from Below the Belt. Did a swim recovery session: 5 x 100, took about 25 minutes. 115 minutes

Thursday – 60 minutes of biking in evening. 45 minutes of it overlapped with class. = 60 minutes

Friday – Swam 4 x 150m, 25 minutes. 1-hour cycling class, had longer hills. 3 of them 7.5 to 9min each. = 85 minutes

Saturday – Swam 30 minutes continuous. 45 minute cycling class. = 75 minutes

TOTAL = 460 minutes = 7 hours, 40 minutes

  • Swim – 80 minutes = 17%
  • Bike – 210 minutes = 46%
  • Run – 50 minutes = 11%
  • Strength – 120 minutes = 26%