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!