The Days are Getting Longer...

Slowly but surely!

Happily taking advantage of being able to start earlier and go later—thank you, sunlight!

Last weekend, Mac and I got our 3-hour bike ride in early..which was great (get it done so we still had the rest of the day, had daylight, etc etc) but also FREEZING!  We thought the fog would burn off quickly but NOPE, pretty sure it just got colder and colder.  We even had to take a 20 minute stop at a starbucks to try to warm up a bit before heading back, but of course that just made it colder….

Luckily, some hills in the last hour, plus the sun FINALLY coming out, meant that we ended the ride feeling great (and finally with feeling in our hands and faces and feet and—basically everything).  But man, that was COLD.  Unfortunately, I know I need to be ok with cold…  Hopefully it’s warmer in Coeur d’Alene, that’s all I have to say!

Swimming is…going.  Running too.  Finally starting intervals and stuff again which I love because trying to keep my heart rate down is maddening!   I can tell things are ramping up a bit, which is great—but also a liiiiiittle bit intimidating.  First brick of the year is coming up on Friday… 3 hour bike and 30 minute run!  Hah!  Nothing like starting off with a bang, I guess.

Still more swimming...

Since apparently swimming is always on my mind… 3000 yards today.  Which was basically 1000 yards of some random stuff, then..2000 yards straight.  Zzzzzz.  Also, exceptionally slow.  And my shoulders kind of hurt, but it forced me to rotate more in the water because that made it not hurt, so I guess that’s good (also means they probably hurt because of my terrible form).  I really need to get another couple lessons set up.  Busy busy busy!

I’m just trying to tell myself its ok.  I’m not about to win a swim race, and I don’t particularly want to.  The goal is to survive the swim and get onto the bike and be strong.  And while it may feel like forever, that extra time on the swim in an ironman is actually not that long, in the grand scheme of the entire day.  So, there's that.  It's kind of hard to believe that though, when it feels so awful.

Speaking of being strong on the bike after a swim, it’s good to have someone force me on the trainer more!  And have actual workouts, not just spinning idly on the bike.  This has been a pretty light week (makes sense, 6^th week in) but overall Shawn is definitely making sure I am working hard.  Which I know is making me stronger, so I love it (while also hating it).  Super looking forward to consistently nicer weather on the weekends too, because riding outside (when it’s usually just a long ride with no set workout) is a million times better.

I feel conflicted sometimes—I love the bike the most, but sometimes I feel it’s out of habit, like I’m trying to convince myself I love it the most.  But that’s on the trainer.  As soon as I’m on the bike outside, there is no question.  :)

February

I can’t believe it’s been..over a month of “official” training!

Work training took me to San Francisco last week, so there were a few days of weird hotel-training… swimming in a 16-yard pool, core work in the hotel room…and running along the water!  That was really nice, I love SF and it was a great way to see some of my favorite places while also getting my workout done.  Starting from the Ferry terminal, I went northwest up to the maritime museum, and got a gorgeous view of the city at sunset…then running back down to AT&T stadium in the dark.  The nice thing about that path/trail is it is so well lit, and with the bright city on the other side of the street and tourists everywhere, it was a really pleasant night run!

Then I got home and had a swim and then a 2.5 hour trainer ride and I got tired.

Anyway, a fresh week now.  Fresh projects at work, too, so kind of settling into a “new” routine.  I noticed I have some longer swims on my schedule in the next couple weeks, so we’ll see how that goes; I was feeling a little better about swimming and then last week happened and I seem to have lost any and all ability in the pool.  Patience…..

A rest day today is good.  I’ve been blaming “travel” on my slight lethargy and lack of motivation so hopefully today will be good for me and I can hit it hard tomorrow!  138 days, whaaaaat?!

Back on Track

Alright, so things are..going.

Being sick really took it out of me.  A few skipped workouts and a few shorted/easy workouts, and now I’m back full steam ahead.. but still have a nagging runny nose.  L  seems like everyone is sick, so I guess there’s no escaping it!  At this point it’s not really holding me back, so just dealing with the runny nose is annoying but…Live-able.

Swimming is..swimming.  There are better days and there are worse days.  I think I might be marginally improving but there’s really not much to go off of at this point.  And I need to just quit worrying about it.  I do think a couple more lessons would be good, because I find myself really focusing on my form and trying to get it right, but I know it’s pretty disastrous.  Hopefully fixing up my form will help with everything else!

I do feel like I’m going backwards as far as running goes…running faster is a lot harder than it was just a month or two ago.  On the other hand, I know that’s “ok,” and expected..even intentional.  As my coach even pointed out to me, you can’t always be the best at something, and the important part is to peak on race day :) So, trying not to get too down about that and realize that it’s all part of the process.

Being Sick is Lame

Oh good, I’m sick.

I woke up a couple days ago with a sore throat…which usually means I’m getting sick.  But it was ok all day, so thought it would be alright.  Yesterday, I was officially sick.  I’m not sure if I feel better or worse today, but definitely sick. :(

Still doing my workouts, just really keeping it easy…which is fine.  We’ll see about tonight and tomorrow, though.  I just want to be better!

The good news is that when I swam this morning, I did do a couple 100’s a little harder, to see where I was at.  Already a little faster, so that was really encouraging!  Then I backed it back down and did the rest super easy, but at least I felt better about it.

Now for lots of soup..and froyo.  Hmph!

Swimming Again!

Well… I started swimming again.  As in, that tattoo is “healed enough” and it’s now on my schedule so I have to do it!  Slathered up my leg with lots of BlueSteel, and... what?!  2500yd, really?!  Pretty sure my longest swim workout all summer (aka ever) was 2500 yards.

Let’s just say it was awful, but hey, at least I did it.  My awesome new Garmin FR920XT decided to be dumb and only really recorded/showed me stuff for the first 150yd, but it kept the timer going so I thought it was still recording but when I went to upload—nope, just 3 minutes worth.  Ugh.  Oh well.  It wasn’t really something I want to remember ;)

In any case, it got done.  It took forever and a day, and my form was awful and all that (excuses, excuses) but I swam 2500yd, dangit!  Actually I think I added some extra because I was keeping track in my head as a backup and kind of forgot where I was once or twice.

I also swam really chill.  As in, I didn’t push myself.  I really only have one speed when I swim, and that is SLOW.  I feel like I can’t push myself, I just don’t know how to or don’t have the strength or something.  So I just kind of plodded along, didn’t really exert myself, but also didn’t have a panic attack and was able to breathe the whole time, so there’s that.  I know that I need to get faster in general, but half of that will be learning how to just exert more effort in general.  I have no problem pushing myself hard biking or running but I just can’t do it in the water.  Things to learn.

Back to the gym for a full body strength session tonight.  I get bored and don’t really like strength training because it’s a different “type” of workout and while it’s hard, it’s a different kind of work.  Not nearly as much fun as running or biking.  But on the other hand, I know it’ll be really good for me so I’m happy that I am being “forced” to do it now (and have guidance).  Plus, I have some awesome new shoes sooooo there’s always that bright side :)

2015 has Begun!

Yup, the start of 2015 means the start of real training again, and with an actual coach now!  Coming up on a week and I have to say—it’s great.  I love having a real schedule again, and secretly love being back to 2-a-day workouts!  Don’t get me wrong, December was absolutely fantastic, and I spent it mostly relaxing and spending time with family and friends.  I did work out a fair amount too, but it wasn’t anything focused, and just kind of as I felt—which was the point.  But now, it’s great to be back!  Having a coach to actually tell me what to do, and give me a schedule and strict workouts, is really great.  There's less of me thinking, and more just doing it.  I'm also doing some strength and core stuff which is awesome-- always knew I needed it but didn't know how to go about doing it myself, so having that direction (and accountability) is great, and I'm excited for the outcome.

Along with that comes the back-to-work schedule, too.  Which means early alarm clocks, which I am definitely still getting used to again.  I’m already tired, and as Shawn pointed out, “just wait until a few months from now”…. Oh boy.  Oh well, at least I’m expecting it :)

Suffice to say, I am still highly motivated and enthused and sooo excited for this year!  Big goals this year, and it feels so good to be back to chasing them!