9 down, 9 to go...

This will be a quick recap of the total week, then I will post about our event on Saturday.

This week was our half Ironman at Pacific Crest. While we were tapering for this event, we knew it was also just another training day on the road to Ironman. So, we pushed things a bit during the week. The weather kept us from getting in a super long ride on Sunday, but that's okay....

Here's how the week went...

Sunday: 9 mile run. Planned an 85 mile bike ride, but it was raining, so we relaxed instead.
Monday: Spin for 60 minutes
Tuesday: 30 mile bike ride, 40 minute run
Wednesday: 45 minute swim
Thursday: rest
Friday: rest
Saturday: Pacific Crest Half Ironman - 50 minute swim, 3 hour and 45 minute bike ride, 2 hour and 45 minute run

Total for the week:
Swim: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Bike: 7 hours and 15 minutes
Run: 5 hours
Weights: rest week
Total: 13 hours and 50 minutes

8 down, 10 to go...

This week was back to a higher volume. We really did a lot of swimming this week - all open water. As I mentioned in previous posts, I get so anxious! These swims were good and I feel ready for our Half Ironman next weekend.

It is strange that the upcoming Half Ironman is our first triathlon of the season and part of training for Ironman Cananda. Last year, it was our big event for the year and we trained all summer long for it.

I have been looking back on my posts and my notes from last year's training and I noticed a common theme - I was ALWAYS tired. Exhausted. I think that had more to do with my mental state than anything else. I was working at the paper at the time and I was getting up at 4 am to get my training done. Then I would come home and do a second workout. Just thinking about that makes me tired. I remember days when I would lay my head on my desk at work because I couldn't hold it up any longer.

This year, we started with a much higher base of fitness and we have really pushed our training to the next level. So while I do feel tired, I don't feel completely exhausted every single minute of every single day. Progress...right?

Here's how the week went...

Sunday: 1.3 mile (45 minute) swim, 52 mile bike (3 hours 40 minutes), 6.5 (one hour and 10 minutes) mile run.
Monday: Spin for 60 minutes!
Tuesday: 45 min upper body weights, 40 minute run
Wednesday: 60 min spin classes, 30 minute swim
Thursday: 45 minutes upper body weights, 40 minute run
Friday: 40 minute swim
Saturday: 45 minute swim

Total for the week:
Swim: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Bike: 5 hours and 40 minutes
Run: 2 hour and 30 minutes
Weights: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Total: 11 hours and 20 minutes

7 down, 11 to go

The week after the marathon, time for a little recovery! Last week was crazy, with over 16 hours of training, this week was really light, around 6 hours. Next week we will ramp things back up.

This week we completed our first open water swims of the season. We've been putting time in the pool over the past months, but we haven't been outdoors until now. The first swim of the season always has the ability to scare the crap out of me. I can swim non-stop for over an hour in the pool, but I get in the pond for the first time and I feel like I don't know how to swim at all. I panic. I feel anxious for the entire swim and never really fall into a groove. Then I worry about the events we have coming up and wonder how in the hell I am going to survive. That sets off a whole new panic...I'm in over my head, can I get out of it? its too soon, I haven't put in enough work. I think those things while I am in the water, then for the next two days until I get back into the water.

We swam on Tuesday - two laps around the pond. It was tough. I couldn't relax. The good thing is that last year, the first swim of the season was only one lap and I barely made it. I am much further along now. Which is good news because we have a Half Ironman Triathlon two weeks from tomorrow (gulp).

We swam again on Thursday and I'll be honest....I didn't want to. I was scared. I spent the entire day hoping that the rain wouldn't stop and we wouldn't have to go. It did stop and we did go. It was a GREAT swim. We did the same two laps and I fell into a comfortable rhythm after just a few strokes. That sure helped my confidence!

We'll swim four times next week and then at least once the following week. So I will get at least 5 more open water swims before our event. That will be enough to get the kinks worked out and be comfortable. I know I can do this. I did it last year and this year I am in much better condition and have spent much more time preparing.

Time to get excited and stop being scared.

Here's how the week went...

Sunday: rest, day after marathon - 90 minutes massage...ahhhhh.
Monday: Spin for 60 minutes - man my legs were sore!
Tuesday: 60 min upper body weights, 35 minute swim
Wednesday: 60 min spin classes - legs were feeling better
Thursday: 60 minutes upper body weights, 30 minute swim (same course, just faster!)
Friday: 10k run - ran and marked the course for the ARC in Motion event that I am race directing on Saturday
Saturday: rest

Total for the week:
Swim: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Bike: 2 hours
Run: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Weights: 2 hour
Total: 6 hours and 15 minutes

6 down, 12 to go

This has been a long week. We had two big workouts in the last 7 days. The longest bike ride ever and a marathon. The time we put in was over just 4 days, with three days of rest....

Here is how the week went.
Sunday: 1.75 hour run (10 miles), 68 miles bike ride (took 5.75 hours, lots of hills and some breaks), 10 minute transition run
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 40 min run, 60 min upper body weights
Wednesday: 1 hour and 10 minute swim and 60 min spin classes
Thursday: rest
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 26.2 mile run - 5 hours and 5 minutes

Total for the week:
Swim: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Bike: 6.75 hours
Run: 7 hours and 40 minutes
Weights: 1 hour
Total: 16 hours and 35 minutes

Here's the crazy thing...it was fun...all of it!

5 down, 13 to go...

Its hard to even remember the beginning of this week! My cold started come back early in the week, but now its gone. I am not really sure when that happened, but I am glad its gone. I have been feeling a little tight in my right IT band, I need to have that worked out early next week. We have a marathon next Saturday, June 5th.

I wasn't feeling completely recovered from the marathon we did last week, so this week I was still kind of in recovery mode. The pouring rain on Sunday helped us decide to take the afternoon off from cycling. That was a much needed break but it made me feel like I was behind all week long. I tried to make up for it as much as I could by adding in two extra spin classes this week.

Here is how the week went.

Sunday: 1.5 hour run (9 miles)

Monday: 60 min spin

Tuesday: 40 min run, 20 min abs

Wednesday: 2 - 60 min spin classes and a 45 min swim

Thursday: 40 minute run and 60 min upper body workout

Friday: Rest. AHHHH

Saturday: 45 min swim and 60 minute spin class.

Total for the week:

Swim: 1.5 hours

Bike: 4 hours

Run: 2 hours and 50 minutes

Weights: 1 hour and 20 min

Total: 9 hours and 40 minutes

I think that math is right?!

Next week is marathon week, so we'll hit it hard on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and maybe Wednesday. Then we will take it easy at the end of the week because 26.2 is waiting for us on Saturday....

Interview with HazelDellLive.com on Parade Run Day!

Full Blown Extreme....

I have been using the same preworkout drink for about two years now. Before we opened our Max Muscle stores, I had very little supplement knowledge. I used protein and a few different vitamins and minerals, but I stayed away from all the other stuff. I didn't know anything about any of it, so I didn't use it.

We were at our Max Muscle Franchisee training a few months before our first store opened and we were going over product knowledge. I had read the data sheets on the Full Blown Extreme, but didn't believe it was a product that was safe or effective for me. I was just a runner and recreational strength trainer. Why would I need a nitric oxide preworkout product? During the training, it was mentioned that this would be a great product for anyone to use. So I started using it.

WOW. What a difference I noticed, right from the start. I have been using a mixture of the Full Blown Extreme, High 5 protein and Carbo Max or ACM before every workout, no matter what time, since then. I have used this mixture on the bike during triathlons and I seriously love the way it feels and the way I perform when I use it.

I rarely do NOT use it. This morning was one of the those times. I wasn't sure of my schedule and when I got up at 6 am, I went ahead and had my morning smoothie. At 7:30, I decided I was going to lift for an hour and then run for 40 minutes. My tummy was still a bit full from my smoothie and I knew I didn't want to put anything else in there. About half way through my run, I thought to myself "man, I am really dragging, what is THIS all about". Then it hit me....No Full Blown Extreme today.

We have been sampling out my preworkout drink at our marathon training group on Sundays. I have had several people say that they really notice a difference. Its been so long since I haven't used it that I guess I forgot how that felt. Today was a good reminder.

This is one of the most rewarding things about our business...Knowing that we sell products that work. Quality products that make a difference in people's lives. That made a tough workout a little easier to bear! I will be sure to plan better in the future, so I don't have this happen to me again!!!

Go Max Muscle....Yay Max Muscle!!